To address the rising temperatures and increasingly frequent heatwaves, the city of Pescara, along with other coastal cities of the Central Adriatic in the LIFE+ A_GreeNet project, are utilizing Nature-based Solutions (NbS) to support the resilience of urban environments.
Greener, cooler neighbourhoods
In Pescara, the project supports a range of interventions, from soil restoration and urban forestry to green roofs, vertical greening and the expansion of public green spaces. The city's approach also focuses on strengthening the quality, resilience and connectivity of urban green spaces across its network of 68 urban parks. Together, these measures moderate urban temperatures, improve environmental quality and create healthier public spaces, particularly benefiting people most vulnerable to heat, while contributing to a more attractive and liveable city.
Planning for long term resilience
Beyond green spaces, LIFE+ A_GreeNet helps participating cities integrate NbS into urban planning, climate policies and the Sustainable Energy and Climate Action Plans (SECAPs). In Pescara this meant setting out a pathway to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 40% by 2030 while strengthening environmental protection and climate resilience.
Another key element of the project is collaboration. Through its Local Green Deals (LGDs), Pescara has brought together public authorities, businesses and civil society to co-design sustainability initiatives, strengthening local governance and supporting the implementation of climate adaptation measures.
A model for coastal cities
Pescara is one of the Central Adriatic cities participating in LIFE+ A_GreeNet, which aims to increase the quantity, quality, resilience and connectivity of urban green infrastructure while improving the cities' capacity to respond to climate change. With knowledge exchange, testing innovative approaches and developing solutions and methodologies, the project is developing approaches that can be useful for coastal cities in the region and throughout Europe.
Author: Minja Alaniva, ICLEI Europe
