International collaboration fosters sustainable urban development through nature-based solutions

A large-scale global research project focused on boosting urban sustainability through nature-based solutions across multiple cities.

SDGs

Researchers from RMIT University Vietnam joined forces with international partners to investigate nature-based solutions (NbS) for tackling the effects of a changing climate and growing populations on cities.

The extensive seven-year Urban GreenUp Project was part of the European Union’s (EU) Horizon 2020 research scheme and investigated a range of locally adapted nature-based solutions for eight cities in Europe, Asia and South America.

A network of 25 cities was also established to maximise the project’s impact and encourage further knowledge sharing and exchange of experiences, best practices, challenges and lessons learned.

Running from 2017 to 2023, RMIT’s contributions to the large-scale project included producing detailed reports for the European Union to help inform local government policies and activities, while ensuring the range of measures could be replicated by other cities.

The reporting aspect of the project also involved identifying and analysing market opportunities for NbS in European and non-European countries; factors essential to NbS growth; and recommendations for embedding such solutions in urban environments.

Professor Robert McClelland, Dean of the Business School at RMIT Vietnam said the strong global partnerships and connections, along with outstanding learning opportunities for PhD students were key elements of the project’s benefits and success.

There were dedicated international teams working together with local communities and industry from eight countries to foster green environments and address critical issues such as environmental pollution.

“The project addressed urban infrastructure challenges exacerbated by climate change such as flooding, and contributed to citizens’ quality of life, supporting both environmental and social policy goals.

“It has been extremely rewarding to see the innovative solutions introduced across the project’s participant cities, the resulting insights and extensive reporting to ensure more communities can successfully implement NbS in future,” he said.

Research Fellow, Dr Trinh Duc Tran and Professor Robert McClelland, Dean of the Business School at RMIT Vietnam at the International Conference for the Urban GreenUp Project in Valladolid, Spain.

What are nature based solutions?

Described by the European Commission as ‘bringing nature and natural features and processes into cities, landscapes and seascapes, through locally adapted, resource-efficient and systemic interventions’, NbS focus on enhancing urban green spaces and reducing environmental pollution.

The Urban Greenup research team categorised NbS solutions into four main groups: re-naturing urbanisation; singular green infrastructure; water interventions and non-technical interventions.

Many different initiatives were introduced, monitored, and reported on across each city during the project. Approaches ranged from introducing new cycling lanes; planting trees and urban orchards; building green walls; facilitating community composting; developing green resting areas and rain gardens; devising natural wastewater treatment plans, to creating a forest school.

RMIT Vietnam Research Fellow, Dr Trinh Duc Tran said the EU had been particularly interested in investigating how cities would cope with the environmental challenges presented by climate change while also looking at the social and economic aspects for the communities.

This is obviously a serious global issue, and we are proud that RMIT Vietnam has played a key role in such a large-scale international project that will have lasting positive impacts for the communities and environment.

Urban GreenUp Cities

The cities participating in the project were divided into three groups:

Front-runners: Valladolid, Spain; Liverpool, United Kingdom and Izmir in Turkey
Follower cities: Ludwigsburg, Germany; Mantova, Northern Italy; Medellin, Columbia, Quy Nhơn, Vietnam and Chengdu, China.
Network of cities: The network comprised cities that were identified as having high potential for replicating the initiatives introduced for the initial eight locations. They were given opportunities to share and exchange knowledge including joining study tours and workshops.

Snapshot of project outputs and impacts

Global reach and significance

Further to the practical solutions implemented and resulting benefits for the participating cities, McClelland highlighted the ongoing impact and value of the project at a wider global level.

“The detailed surveys, analysis and follow-up reports provided to the European Union at the end of the project include outlining how to ensure the NbS solutions that have already been introduced remain sustainable for the long term, and how these can be replicated in other areas,” he said.

As stated in the Urban GreenUp handbook that was developed by the project’s chief research investigators, the team were keen to share “success stories, best practices and lessons learnt as a legacy of the project and its contribution to the global knowledge generated on Nature-based Solutions implementation in urban areas.”

We want to guide policymakers, businesses, researchers, citizens, and other stakeholders in identifying urban challenges and selecting and implementing the best-suited Nature-based Solutions for their requirements.

RMIT Vietnam involvement

Trinh Duc Tran said that RMIT’s involvement in the project was mutually beneficial.

“The project had many positive impacts, including elevating the capability of our local urban communities to improve their environmental, social and economic sustainability,” he said.

“RMIT Vietnam’s involvement was valuable in giving the city of Quy Nhơn a direct connection to such a large-scale European project and expertise,” he said.

“And in turn, we are proud of our multidisciplinary research expertise and contributions involving detailed analysis and reporting on the Urban GreenUp research project.

“Our research capability for implementing such a large-scale European funded development project was also strengthened by working together with our colleagues from European institutions and RMIT’s Centre for Urban Research.”

Further grants and projects stemming from Urban GreenUp

The success of the GreenUp project led to a new research cluster being developed at RMIT Vietnam to focus on sustainable developments and consumption research.

Other RMIT research projects and student opportunities leading on from the success of the GreenUp Project work include:

Research projects funded by the Bremen Overseas Research Development Agency (BORDA) on managing urban water.
Participation in the Mekong Delta Climate Resilience Programme, funded by the German Development Agency.
PhD scholarship funding – six PhD projects looking at aspects around environment, the community, circular economy and urban resilience are also in the development and recruitment phase.
A research project with River Cities as Method, emphasising RMIT Vietnam’s developing expertise in rivers.
Another Horizon 2020 Europe project on waste management

Attendees at the NbS forum for the Mekong Delta in Can Tho, Vietnam.

Further information

The researchers’ article, "Strategic Opportunities for Nature-Based Solutions: Lessons for Policy and Practice from Cross-City Comparisons" is published in the journal Nature-based Solutions (DOI: 10.1016/j.nbsj.2024.100132)
Urban GreenUp project website

Key contacts

Professor Robert McClelland
Dean, The Business School
College of Business and Law, RMIT Vietnam

Dr Trinh Duc Tran
Research Fellow, The Business School
College of Business and Law, RMIT Vietnam

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