From Global Pacts to Local Implementation: Nature-based Solutions for Climate-Resilient Coastal Cities (Evidence from Izmir, Türkiye)

Cities are at the frontline of climate risk increasingly, however, the gap between global commitments and local action is still huge, especially in coastal urban areas that are subjected to several hazards, like extreme climatic events, flooding, and ecosystem degradation. The policy brief suggests that Nature- and culture-based Solutions (N+CbS) could not only act as environmental improvements but also as a powerful climate governance tool to convert the aspirations of international agreements, such as the UN Pact for the Future, into tangible, local outcomes. The brief, which is based on an evidence-based assessment of the Mediterranean coastal city of Izmir (Turkey), offers a synthesis of research concerning urban green and blue infrastructure as multi-functional benefits for climate adaptation. Using GIS-based spatial analysis and ecosystem service models, the study reveals how different N+CbS strategies can bring benefits in the areas of outdoor comfort, stormwater management, support for biodiversity, and health of the population and at the same time build up social resilience and territorial anti-fragility in neighborhoods. In the case of the coastal cities, the brief proposes an implementation framework which fills the gaps between planning for N+CbS implementation and risk-informed spatial targeting, coordination of governance, and monitoring based on quantifiable indicators. It underlines the need to transform scientific metrics into tools so as to enable the involvement of cities and UN agencies along with development partners to provide assistance for the implementation of N+CbS. Linking local proof and global goals, this policy brief proposes recommendations on improving the means of adapting to climate change using natural- and cultural-based solutions, which can be acted upon and measured in an inclusive and socially responsible manner.