Ecosystem-Based Adaptation: A Holistic Approach to Pursue Multiple Benefits

Dear Colleagues,

Managing the effects of climate change is a global challenge that requires a holistic and multidisciplinary approach, especially in urban areas. Transformative changes for pursuing resilience building and climate neutrality goals represent an important opportunity for improving the quality of life of citizens and making cities healthy, equitable, inclusive, and just. An ecosystem-based approach has great potential in contributing to the guiding vision of “One Planet, One Health” by shaping the intertwining of biodiversity and climate in complex urban socio-ecological systems.

This topic aims to explore the links between adaptive capacity, social challenges, and implications for citizens' health by fully exploiting the multidisciplinarity offered by the ecosystem services methodological framework. In this context, we welcome and encourage submissions dealing with the following:

• Concepts, methodologies, and tools that can contribute to upscaling and strengthening “ecosystem-based thinking”;
• Literature reviews relevant to the integration of ecosystem-based approaches into urban development, adaptation, mitigation, and responses;
• Strengthening knowledge on the societal benefits of implementing an ecosystem-based approach in the built environment;
• Quantitative evaluation of the benefits and costs of ecosystem services for urban preparedness and resilience.

References:

Pilogallo, A.; Scorza, F.; Murgante, B. Ecosystem Services-Based City Ranking in Italy: A Tool to Enhance Sustainable Thinking in Regeneration Land 2024, 13, 891. https://doi.org/10.3390/land13060891

Pilogallo, A.; Scorza, F. Ecosystem Services Multifunctionality: An Analytical Framework to Support Sustainable Spatial Planning in Sustainability 2022, 14, 3346. https://doi.org/10.3390/su14063346

Pilogallo, A.; Pietrapertosa, F.; Salvia, M. Are we going towards an effective integration of air quality and climate planning? A comparative analysis for Italian regions, Journal of Environmental Management 2024, 368, 122138, ISSN 0301-4797, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.122138

Varyvoda, Y.; Foerster, T.A.; Mikkola, J.; Mars, M.M. Promising Nature-Based Solutions to Support Climate Adaptation of  Arizona’s  Local  Food  Entrepreneurs and  Optimize  One Health. Sustainability 2024, 16, 3176. https://doi.org/10.3390/su16083176

Liu, Z.; Xiu, C.; Han, G.; Yuan, L. Spatiotemporal Dynamics and Mainstreaming Strategies of Ecosystem-Based Adaptation to Urban Climate Sustainability 2024, 16, 3370. https://doi.org/10.3390/su16083370

Dr. Angela Pilogallo
Dr. Zhimin Liu
Dr. Yevheniia Varyvoda
Topic Editors