Editorial for Special Issue “Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) in Cities and Their Interactions with Urban Land, Ecosystems, Built Environments and People: Debating Societal Implications”

Brownfield-related studies in the context of climate change: A comprehensive review and future prospects

The global climate change events are expected to augment the vulnerability of persistent organic pollutants within the global brownfield areas to a certain extent, consequently heightening the risk crises faced by these brownfields amidst the backdrop of global environmental changes. However, studies addressing brownfield risks from the perspective of climate change have received limited attention. Nonetheless, the detrimental consequences of brownfield risks are intrinsically linked to strategies for mitigating and adapting to sustainable urban development, emphasizing the critical importance of their far-reaching implications. This relevance extends to concerns about environmental quality, safety, health risks, and the efficacy of chosen regeneration strategies, including potential secondary pollution risks. This comprehensive review systematically surveys pertinent articles published between 1998 and 2023. A selective analysis was conducted on 133 articles chosen for their thematic relevance. The findings reveal that: (1) Under the backdrop of the climate change process, brownfield restoration is necessitated to provide scientific and precise guidance. The integration of brownfield considerations with the dynamics of climate change has progressively evolved into a unified framework, gradually shaping a research paradigm characterized by "comprehensive + multi-scale + quantitative" methodologies; (2) Research themes coalesce into five prominent clusters: "Aggregation of Brownfield Problem Analysis", "Precision Enhancement of Brownfield Identification through Information Technology", "Diversification of Brownfield Reutilization Assessment", "Process-Oriented Approaches to Brownfield Restoration Strategies", and "Expansion of Ecological Service Functions in Brownfield Contexts"; (3) Application methodologies encompass five key facets: "Temporal and Spatial Distribution Patterns of Pollutants", "Mechanisms and Correlations of Pollution Effects", "Evaluation of Pollution Risks", "Assessment of Brownfield Restoration Strategies", and "Integration of Brownfield Regeneration with Spatial Planning". Future brownfield research from the climate change perspective is poised to reflect characteristics such as "High-Precision Prediction, Comprehensive Dimensionality, Full-Cycle Evaluation, Low-Risk Exposure, and Commitment to Sustainable Development".

Community Acceptance of Nature-Based Solutions in the Delta of the Tordera River, Catalonia

Much has been debated regarding the environmental and economic aspects that conform the pillars of sustainability in nature-based solutions (NbSs). However, the social implications are lagging behind in both theory and practice. NbSs are not inherently socially and environmentally just and they might not work for or benefit everyone. On the contrary, they may lead to unequal environmental tradeoffs influencing therefore community acceptance. This research explored the different levels of community acceptance of NbSs in the Tordera delta (Catalonia) through structured interviews and Q-methodology with representative stakeholders. It pretended to contribute to more just NbS discussions by identifying variables of community acceptance through a socio-environmental perspective. The results exposed existing socio-economic and socio-spatial differences that cause unequal co-benefits and tradeoffs among stakeholders of the area. Three distinctive discourses were identified: (1) NbSs as an opportunity to re-naturalize the river; (2) the possibility of NbS implementation if aligned with the current socio-economic structure of the delta; and (3) the belief in a hybrid NbS future, combining grey infrastructure and NbSs. Building on those results and discussions, the paper reflected on a restructuration of the delta’s governance through further collaborative processes to seek a more socio-environmentally just and inclusive NbSs in the area.