A key approach to creating resilient cities to climate change is to scrutinize the existing urban fabric, identify the opportunities, and re-design urban
By integrating urban climate design principles into planning processes, cities can proactively adapt to climate extremes, ensuring long-term
Measures to counteract this, such as green spaces, fresh air corridors and shading, can reduce heat in cities and thus prevent deaths. It is the task of local
This paper presents a case study on integrating Nature-based Solutions(NbSs) with urban infrastructure, focusing on the design and development of Urban Oasis.
Urban Green and Blue Infrastructure planning (UGI) is a strategic approach to develop interconnected and multifunctional networks of blue and green spaces that potentially provide a wide range of environmental, social and economic benefits and simultaneously enhance the climate resilience of cities. These have great economic costs for the society and greening of cities (e.g. planting trees or establishing new green space), restoration of degraded ecosystems, choosing low-intensive management practices in parks, or constructing local nature-based solutions can bring significant direct savings to control run-off water or flooding compared to traditional engineered-based solutions. In many EU Member States urban green infrastructure and nature-based solutions have already been supported by national legislation related to land-use planning, stormwater management, surface water or biodiversity protection. The European Union strongly supports the concept of green infrastructure and nature-based solutions in enhancing climate resilience, sustainable water management and well-being of humans and biodiversity in European cities.
In this essay, a transdisciplinary framework for adaptive urban GI planning is proposed to integrate science and professional practice.
# Developing sustainable and climate-friendly urban and peri-urban areas. These examples show not only the increasing anchoring of sustainable urban development in international agreements and recommendations for action, but also the growing importance of the urban perspective for sustainable development and climate protection. IKI projects support partner countries and cities in developing strategies for sustainable, climate-friendly and resilient urban development and urban biodiversity. Urban climate action projects focus on the development of local climate action plans, the vertical and horizontal integration of climate action strategies and policies, and financing mechanisms for climate action activities. ## 10 Years of sustainable urban development in the International Climate Initiative. In 2025, the International Climate Initiative looks back on 10 years of “sustainable urban development”: This topic has been an overarching focus within IKI’s funding areas since 2015. Globally, well over 100 IKI projects on sustainable urban development have been implemented in more than 50 countries to date. ### 2015-2025: 10 Years of Sustainable Urban Development in the International Climate Initiative.
Seto, along with Arianna Salazar-Miranda, assistant professor of urban planning and data science, have studied the benefits of colocation, including the “15-minute city,” which is based on an old urban planning concept prioritizing city design around people, proximity, and walkability. The transition to decarbonization requires systems change on both macro- and micro-levels, including electrifying city and school bus fleets; building out infrastructure for EVs; encouraging public transportation; constructing energy-efficient buildings and housing units; retrofitting current units with green energy technology such as heat pumps; utilizing district energy networks that heat and cool multiple buildings through underground pipes; and harvesting industrial waste that can also heat and cool residential buildings in cities (known as urban industrial symbiosis). While the challenges cities face can be daunting, Seto emphasizes that if the 100 cities with the largest carbon footprint could reduce their emissions through design strategies that encourage less driving and more walking, planting more shade trees, and adopting energy-efficient heating and cooling systems, cities could become powerful catalysts for climate solutions.