Urban Blue–Green Spaces and Spatial Planning: Strategies for Climate Change Adaptation

Dear Colleagues,

Urban blue–green spaces, as a nature-based solution, is attracting attention worldwide nowadays. Academics, urban planners, environmental activists, and many governments are promoting the adoption of blue–green spaces as a traditional measure to adapt urban centres to the foreseeable impacts of climate change. Nevertheless, there is a remarkable research vacuum on this topic around the globe. This Special Issue aims to advance the state of the knowledge on how blue–green spaces can be best planned and managed to improve urban sustainability, climate resilience, and ecosystem services, recognising their critical role in creating healthier, more liveable cities.

The goal of this Special Issue is to collect papers (original research articles and review papers) to give insights into distinct but interrelated topics regarding the following: (i) Urban blue–green spaces and their environmental benefits, such as urban heat islands dissipation, and other public health benefits, such as reducing obesity rates by promoting physical activity and better mental wellbeing, as well as their social and economic benefits, such as promoting social cohesion, fostering community wellbeing, and boosting tourism and the quality of life index of urban centres. (ii) Actual and potential accessibility disparities to green spaces, the development of planning strategies to improve equitable distribution, and the study of the complex relationship between urbanisation and the integration of nature into city life for greater sustainability considering equitable access and environmetal justice principles. (iii) Green spaces functionality to fulfil the purpose for which blue–green spaces have been created, as these blue–green spaces should not merely exist, but also offer people various possibilities of both passive and active leisure activities. Therefore, well-functioning green spaces are a fundamental part of urban elements. At the same time, this Special Issue presents research on cost-effectiveness, measuring users’ satisfaction, and aspects of municipal planning and management to ensure better functionality of urban green spaces.

Given the diversity and complexity of research topics in the field of green spaces, all research articles utilising case study, quantitative, empirical, mapping, and qualitative research methods are invited. In addition, academics, planners, professionals, and activists interested in nature-based solutions to mitigate the effects of climate change on urban centres are invited to submit their articles, position papers, and policy briefs on the topics of the call.

This Special Issue will welcome manuscripts that link the following themes:

• Urban blue–green spaces and their environmental, health, social and economic benefits.
• Actual and potential accessibility disparities to green spaces
• Green spaces functionality and related topics, such as cost-effectiveness, measuring users’ satisfaction, and aspects of municipal planning and management to ensure better functionality of urban green spaces.

We look forward to receiving your original research articles and reviews.

Dr. Ahmed Mohammed Alhuseen
Dr. Pavel Cudlin
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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