Achieving Just Urban Transition (JUT) by adopting Nature-Based Solutions (NBS)

Executive summary

This article has been written as part of the assignment for the course “AAR5270 – Globalization and Urban Development (spring, 2023)”. The focus of the writing is to review the relevant academic literature, as its methodology surround the concepts “Just Urban Transition, (JUT)” and “Nature-Based Solutions, (NBS)”. Thus, the main purpose is to understand how the NBS could be planned and implemented in a way that creates a just urban transition in the cities.

As urban challenges such as climate change, urban degeneration, and aging infrastructures increase, nature-based solutions have become increasingly popular. However, it is important that they are able to create sustainable and just transition by considering the complex nature of the global and local challenges. This paper first explores the concept just urban transition (JUT) by reviewing Hughes’ (2020) article. Then it reviews two articles about NBS to understand in what ways they are beneficial, and to realize how they should be implemented. Then, it explores the concept of urban commons, and it argues how NBS could create green urban commons in the public spaces.    

The main discussion of the article is on how NBS could be planned and implemented in a way that they contribute to the JUT. For this purpose, the paper discusses the linkage of these two concepts in three distinct sections of socio-economic, ecosystem, and implementation aspects. The paper concludes by highlighting the importance of socio-economic and institutional aspects of NBS planning. In addition, it accentuates the importance of using contextual transdisciplinary approach and contextual studies while implementing NBS for more just urban transition in the urban environments. This article is helpful to planners and practitioners who wish to implement NBS projects in response to the world environmental challenges.

Timeline
2 Months

Date Completed
May 2023