Urban areas face increasing challenges related to climate change, biodiversity loss, and social inequalities. This framework provides practical guidance and tools for integrating Nature-based Solutions (NbS) into urban planning. It further ensures they meet all design, implementation, and operational standards while creating sustainable, inclusive, and resilient cities. This document provides a detailed analysis of key European and global sustainability framework requirements, including:

• The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) ݀

• The 100 Climate-neutral and Smart Cities by 2030 mission ݀

• The Mission on Adaptation to Climate Change ݀

• The New European Bauhaus (NEB) ݀

• The EU Taxonomy ݀

• The EU Biodiversity Strategy ݀

• The UN Habitat findings and recommendations for Urban Regeneration

The analysis supports the implementation of GreenInCities’ integrated co-creation methodology, offering a comprehensive roadmap for policymakers, urban planners, and decision-makers. By aligning with these sustainability frameworks, the approach ensures that Nature-based Solutions (NbS) interventions are data-driven, community-inclusive, and tailored to local needs.

Cities can use this framework to design, implement, and evaluate NbS that contribute to climate adaptation, biodiversity conservation, and social inclusion.

This deliverable is designed for stakeholders involved in urban planning, policy development, and sustainability initiatives.

Primary Audience:

• GreenInCities project partners

• European Commission (EC) and CINEA

• Urban planners, architects, and designers

• Local, regional, and national policymakers

• Public and private institutions engaged in urban greening

Secondary Audience:

• Academics and researchers focusing on NbS, urban ecology, and sustainability

• Community groups and citizen engagement organisations

• Environmental NGOs and advocacy groups

This document is developed through a two-stage analysis of the European and global sustainability frameworks, complemented by a review of relevant literature and references:

Analysing targets and concepts

• Deconstructing key theories and principles

• Identifying measurable indicators for performance assessment

• Clarifying conceptual relationships, overlaps, and potential conflicts among frameworks

Transposing targets and concepts onto NbS design

• Deconstructing key theories and principles

• Identifying measurable indicators for performance assessment

• Clarifying conceptual relationships, overlaps, and potential conflicts among frameworks

• Environmental NGOs and advocacy groups

This structured analysis ensures that interventions are not only aligned with local and global sustainability goals but are also scientifically sound, socially inclusive, and compliant with policy requirements.

Additionally, this deliverable presents how the GreenInCities integrated co-creation methodology contributes to these frameworks. It outlines the unique role of various tools and methods in each of the four co-creation phases, demonstrating how they enhance decision-making, predictive capabilities, and long-term urban green space planning.

To ensure effective NbS implementation, the deliverable outlines key design principles and best practices:

• Align NbS with European and global sustainability frameworks to maximise environmental and social benefits.

• Prioritise ecosystem-based approaches, ensuring that green spaces contribute to climate adaptation, biodiversity enhancement, and public health.

• Leverage digital tools (GIS, AI, Digital Twins) to enhance urban planning and track NbS effectiveness.

• Foster multi-stakeholder collaboration, integrating policymakers, urban designers, researchers, and citizens.

• Ensure financial sustainability by aligning NbS projects with European funding mechanisms and private sector investment.

• Develop standardised performance indicators to assess the impact of green infrastructure on air quality, biodiversity, and social cohesion.

• Encourage adaptive management, allowing cities to refine NbS strategies based on real-time data and community feedback.

A holistic, multi-layered approach to urban greening is essential. NbS must be designed with social, environmental, and technological considerations in mind. Their success depends on policy alignment, data-driven decision-making, and active citizen participation.

This framework highlights the importance of synergy between different sustainability frameworks, enabling cities to navigate overlapping regulations and funding opportunities. The adoption of co-creation methodologies ensures that green spaces are designed to be inclusive, functional, and scalable.

Looking ahead, continuous research and innovation will be key to enhancing NbS implementation, with AI-driven analytics, remote sensing technologies, and digital simulation tools improving the precision and effectiveness of urban greening strategies.

Cities that embrace this approach will be better positioned to enhance biodiversity, mitigate climate risks, and improve public well-being, ultimately making urban areas more sustainable, resilient, and inclusive.

The deliverable includes visual aids and data-driven insights to support NbS planning: ݀

• Comparative tables outlining key sustainability frameworks and their requirements for NbS.

• Infographics illustrating the four-phase co-creation methodology.

• GIS-based urban greening maps showcasing best practices in pilot cities.

• Performance indicator dashboards for measuring the impact of NbS interventions.

• Flowcharts and decision trees guiding policymakers on framework implementation.