1,721,006 research outputs found
Urban Ecosystem Accounts for Italy: benchmarking Italian values against other European countries
No full textThe recently approved Nature Restoration Law (NRL) sets targets for urban green space and tree cover. Concurrently, the proposal for an amendment to the EU Regulation on Environmental Accounts includes accounts for ecosystem extent, condition, and services for urban ecosystems, aligning with the UN Statistical Standard for Ecosystem Accounting (SEEA-EA). The NRL anticipates increased urban green space and tree cover in each Member State until satisfactory levels are achieved. However, it remains unclear what defines a satisfactory level and how it will be evaluated, though it is expected to relate to optimal or good ecosystem condition as outlined in SEEA-EA. Here, we benchmark Italian urban ecosystems in terms of extent, condition, and services against European counterparts. Hopefully, initiating a discussion to better understand potential satisfactory levels. We conduct an overall comparison and a closer look at countries with similar climates and population size. We develop thematic urban ecosystem accounts for the latest year available in Copernicus data (2018). Specifically, we create accounts for ecosystem extent, four condition variables (green space, tree cover, imperviousness, and particulate matter (PM) concentration), and air filtration as an ecosystem service. Results show that Italian urban ecosystems have slightly more artificialized areas and fewer (peri)urban forests than the EU average. In general, condition variables and air filtration efficiency in Italian urban ecosystems are similar to European averages. However, PM2.5 and PM10 in Italian urban ecosystems exceed European averages by 3-7 μg/m3 (a 20% higher than the European average), varying seasonally. Italian medium-sized cities also show higher imperviousness per inhabitant and lower urban green per inhabitant than European counterparts, with regional variations within Italy. Overall, if satisfactory levels within NRL and related policies are defined as feasible general European values, Italy is unlikely to face major challenges, compared to most European counterparts, in meeting them
A flexible multi-scale system dynamics modelling framework to assess the socio-economic impact of urban Green Infrastructure
No full textThe uncertainty of climate change, the fast -growing increase of global (urban) population and, as a
result, an intensified competition among urban land uses demand a transition towards spatial planning
models that maximise resilience, sustainability, and land-efficiency of cities.
To succeed on this transition, more rigorous, holistic, and flexible assessment approaches of Green
Infrastructure (GI) are needed: i) to define better their economic costs, benefits (i.e. ecosystem services),
and losses (i.e. ecosystem disservices); ii) to facilitate comparability between options (including grey
alternatives); iii) to adapt their valuation to different context, socio-economic scenarios, and
implementation models; iv) and to easily inform stakeholders and decision makers. To this end, we
introduce a flexible multi-scale system dynamics modelling framework that can assess the socio -
economic impact of urban GI (its ecosystem services and disservices) in a monetary and well-being value
scale. For the monetary value scale, data from life cycle inventories, input -output models, and other
process-based parameters of the system dynamics modules are translated to impact scores. This is done
by calculating the marginal product of ecosystem services in both an economic production and a welfare
function as an estimation of the s hadow prices of each service. The practicality of this framework to
support urban planning decisions will be outlined through a methodological advancement’s roadmap,
framed in the context of a current international project on re-naturing cities (Nature4Cities). Additionally,
examples of previous cities and neighbourhood proposals will be used to show how our modelling
approach could better inform future urban planning works
Towards a coherent urban ecosystem accounting framework compliant with SEEA EA
No full textThe adoption of the UN Statistical Standard for Ecosystem Accounting (SEEA-EA) has reignited interest in developing a coherent natural capital framework for urban environments among scholars and policymakers. As the EU Nature Restoration Law indicates, it is urgent to transition towards a pathway of continuous, long-term, and sustained recovery of biodiversity. To elaborate a system of standardised ecosystem accounts would help (i) monitoring continuously the state of natural and anthropogenic ecosystems, and (ii) tracking progress of ecosystem restoration targets. However, scholars have realised that SEEA-EA still does not offer a rigorous ecological conceptualisation for urban ecosystems and that the lack of a fit to purpose operational framework might hamper its practical implementation in EU cities. Here, we review current ecosystem accounting theory and practice with the aim of highlighting critical conceptual and operational challenges of SEEA-EA for urban ecosystem accounting. For some challenges, potential solutions are also discussed. We explored core grey and white literature on SEEA-EA and conducted our review using both traditional systematic and a cutting-edge review tool, which prevented overlooking relevant references not making use of SEEA-EA terminology. To complement, and double-check findings, insights from experts on challenges and potential solutions were also gathered. Our results highlight a greater number of conceptual challenges in extent and condition accounts. Among those, it emerges a lack of consensus on where and how to delineate the boundaries of urban ecosystems. Moreover, the definition of sub-functional groups of urban ecosystems reveals to be still in its infancy. We also identified challenges shared with other ecosystems (like wetlands or agroecosystems), thus making our findings relevant beyond urban accounting. By visibilizing challenges and discussing feasible solutions from an ecology lens, we expect to help building the basis of a coherent and ecologically robust system of SEEA-EA urban ecosystem accounts in EU
Modelling the relationships between urban land cover change and local climate regulation to estimate urban heat island effect
No full textUrban land covers affect the thermal characteristics of the city, such as the urban heat island (UHI) effect, potentially increasing energy demand to maintain comfortable indoor and outdoor temperatures. As the land patterns change, the capacity of the landscape to regulate the UHI can change. The aim of this paper is to explore how simulating land cover changes (LCC) may affect UHI using an ecosystem service matrix approach. A LCC model, illustrated in the case study of Lisbon, Portugal, was implemented to estimate the UHI effects over time starting from the modelling of land cover changes associated with the supply of local climate regulation service. Our results show that the capacity of urban landscape to mitigate the UHI effect has decreased since 1990, and will continue to decrease slightly until 2022 although more smoothly than between 1990 and 2000. This is because no substantial land cover changes have occurred after 2000 that required the transition between highest to lowest ecosystem service supplier landscapes. The proposed modelling approach may be refined and used to aiding the decision making process for urban planners in the placement of built structures and green spaces that have the capacity to regulate local climate
A collaborative adaptive spatial planning framework under a landscape ecology perspective: toward a pattern:process:design paradigm
No full textOral Presentation
Abstract:
In the past decade, the study of ecosystem services has extended its influence into spatial planning and landscape ecology, becoming integrated with the existing areas of concern of both as a relevant issue (e.g. [1-3]). Their mutual interest in ecosystems services offers an opportunity to enhance the saliency, credibility, and legitimacy of landscape ecology thinking and tools on spatial planning issues [4], moving towards a pattern:process:design paradigm [4]. This paper proposes a collaborative adaptive spatial planning framework developed by making use of landscape ecology thinking and tools. The framework advocates an upgrade of the term ecosystem services, to landscape services [5], and its interrelation with the concept of nature-based solutions [6] for spatial planning work. These changes permit the clarification of terminology during interdisciplinary projects [5]; the integration of relevant services excluded from ecosystem services (anthropogenic services); a clear statement that services are not dependent only in single ecosystems, landscape configuration matters [7-8]; and to integrate tangible elements (nature-based solutions) stressing the utility of ecosystem services [9], that aids the understanding and use by decision makers, planners, and other stakeholders. Four phases (characterisation, assessment, design, and monitoring) and three concepts (character, service, and value) are key to this framework. In addition, landscape metrics are proposed as preferred indicators to better understand character-services relations and public participation techniques are integrated in all the phases to facilitate active stakeholders’ engagement. The period of activity of scientific and design professionals overlap in all four phases. This permits the breakdown of disciplinary segregation, making it easier to develop adaptive plans and solutions by using collaborative approaches
Impacts of policy on urban energy metabolism at tackling climate change: The case of Lisbon
No full textUrbanisation and the associated growing climate change burdens pose risks to urban and global climate resilience. Urban greenhouse gas emissions fluctuate over time in response to energy demand, which is influenced by government programmes, economic activity, and demographics. In this research, we investigate the influence of policy on urban energy demand and its consequences on mitigating climate change impacts. Using a case study of Lisbon, Portugal from 2008 to 2016, we illustrate a combined use of an urban energy metabolism assessment coupled with a logarithmic mean Divisia index to isolate the changes in energy-related carbon emissions associated with policy changes. We then link these energy flows to life cycle emissions factors to build a multi-level assessment between local and non-local global warming potential. We find that in 2016 Lisbon's energy flows generated more than 2 Mt of CO2-equivalent emissions over their life cycles, 48% of which were direct emissions within the city. This corresponds to a decrease of around 37% in greenhouse gas emissions from 2008. Additionally, we estimate the potential of Lisbon's urban forests to sequester these emissions to understand the potential for climate change mitigation. Results show that Lisbon's urban forest can meet less than 1% of the emissions throughout the assessment period. We discuss the changes, concluding that urban forests are insufficient in size to meet the sequestration demands of the urban energy metabolism, and therefore the focus must be more attuned to reducing fossil fuel use in the urban trade and transport activities
EU-wide methodology: towards operationalisation of the SEEA EA condition accounts in the EU
Full text linkThe EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 anticipates the development of an EU-wide methodology to map, assess and achieve good condition of ecosystems. The Joint Research Centre (European Commission) has led the development of such methodology, making use of the System of Environmental Economic Accounting - Ecosystem Accounting (SEEA EA) of United Nations as reference framework. Specifically, the EU-wide methodology follows the rules of the SEEA-EA ecosystem condition accounts, presenting useful insights to operationalise this framework for all ecosystem types in the EU. The EU-methodology provides a comprehensive set of condition variables per ecosystem type as well as recommendations on methods for setting reference levels and thresholds to determine good ecosystem condition. In this presentation, we introduce the EU-wide methodology, its relationship with the SEEA-EA, and the challenges identified during the development of this work. Regarding challenges, the presentation will introduce those that could be mitigated through further advances in Earth Observation data. The case of urban ecosystems will be used to illustrate the challenges in a practical form, to facilitate their comprehension by a broad audience. To conclude, the presentation will open a discussion on the role of Earth Observation for the mapping and assessment of good ecosystem condition, and which should be the next steps
SEEA-EA ecosystem accounts as an opportunity for standardization of ecosystem services assessment and its intertwining with life cycle assessment
No full textDuring the last decade there has been an increasing interest in the development of national ecosystem accounts, which has led to the recent adoption of the statistical framework for Ecosystem Accounting (SEEA-EA) of the United Nations. SEEA-EA is a system composed of five types of accounts which are developed integrated: ecosystem extent, ecosystem condition, ecosystem services flow (biophysical and monetary), and monetary ecosystem asset. Its clear systems of rules and the integration of anthropocentric, ecocentric, intrinsic and utilitarian perspectives offer a great opportunity for standardization of ecosystem assessments, and ecosystem services assessments from local to international levels. In the case of anthropogenic ecosystem types, e.g., urban ecosystems, ecosystem accounts also present an opportunity window for integrating life cycle assessment (LCA) to achieve ecosystem condition accounts that take into account global and local changes. In this presentation, we introduce initial works on SEEA-EA urban ecosystem accounts for EU to
reflect on the potential value of SEEA-EA ecosystem accounts for standardisation of ecosystem services assessments. We also introduce current gaps of urban ecosystem accounts, common for other anthropogenic ecosystems, which could be minimised or tackled via the integration of life cycle assessment, especially a territorial life cycle assessment approach. As a final output, this research draw lines to integrated ecosystem services assessment guidelines, territorial life cycle assessment, and previous works on the intertwining of ES and LCA, highlighting the potential value of ecosystem accounts for
standardisation of integrated ecosystem services assessments
A spatiotemporally differentiated product system modelling framework for consequential life cycle assessment
No full textConsequential life cycle assessment (CLCA) applied to systems under continuous evolution, such as cities, usually disregard interactions among local components, how policy decisions influence them, and the value of spatial data. As a result, local environmental impacts might not be well-considered. This paper investigates how a spatially explicit system dynamics (SD) modelling approach can overcome such limitation, contributing to the advancement of CLCA. First, a novel CLCA conceptual framework is presented combining consequential life cycle inventories, SD principles and the use of spatially explicit data. Second, its innovative value is demonstrated through a proof-of-concept SD-CLCA model. This model evaluates the environmental impacts of changes in electricity supply-demand in the market due to an increasing adoption of solar photovoltaic panels (SPV) in residential buildings. It allows traceability of both system changes and their environmental consequences. For demonstration purposes, the SD-CLCA model is applied to Lisbon municipality and the broader electricity market of Portugal. Results showcase how SD-CLCA models could provide a closer representation of the real effects of predicted changes in the electricity market due to different SPV adoption scenarios. They also illustrate that changes in gross domestic product, population and precipitation provide a diversified set of impact scores. As a methodological advancement, and to the net of a few shortcomings, the proposed SD-CLCA model is able to capture the complexity of cause-effect dynamics determining environmental impacts, which currently represents a research gap in LCA
Quantification and mapping of regulating and provisioning services in urban areas making use of a system dynamics model
No full textOral Presentation
Abstract:
There is a growing evidence that the use of statistical, process-based, and mechanistic models can provide robust information for the quantification and mapping of provisioning and regulating services. These models can allow identification and relation of main factors of biophysical structures and processes, taking into account how the condition of ecosystems or living features (e.g. health conditions of trees) could increase or decrease the supply of ecosystem services (ES). However, they i) usually assume that conditions do not change over time; ii) rarely consider causal loop interactions among biophysical structures, processes and human actions; iii) do not model multiple ES at once. In this research, we present a system dynamics modelling approach to quantify and map several regulation and provisioning services and disservices simultaneously supplied by urban nature-based solutions, which acknowledges temporal changes in the system. To illustrate the approach, we develop and present the results of an urban forest model applied to Valdebebas Park (Madrid, Spain). Five regulating services (carbon sequestration, temperature regulation, air pollutant filtration, and water flow maintenance), one provisioning service (plant material for direct use or processing), and one provisioning disservice (plant residues for landfill or waste treatment) were quantified and mapped in biophysical units. The model includes morbidity dynamics of trees triggered by their location (street vs open spaces), lack of water, and waterlogging, as well as the influence of human management. The results show the potential of system dynamics models to quantify bundles of ES in a spatio-temporally explicit form and their usefulness to inform decision making in urban interventions.
Key words: System Dynamics; Nature-based Solutions; Ecosystem Services; Ecosystem Disservices
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