URBAN GreenUP (grant ID 730426) was a Horizon 2020 EU-funded project from 2017 to 2022, coordinated by VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland Ltd. It focused on re-naturing cities through Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) to combat climate change impacts like heat islands, flooding, and pollution in front-runner cities (Valladolid, Manchester, Medina del Campo) and follower cities across Europe and beyond.
Main Objective
The project developed and validated a transferable Renaturing Urban Plans (RUP) methodology, integrating NBS into urban planning for climate adaptation, resource efficiency, and biodiversity enhancement. It piloted over 40 NBS interventions, such as green roofs/walls, rain gardens, urban forests, and pocket parks, while monitoring impacts via sensors and citizen engagement tools.
Strategic Objectives
- Create scalable RUP guidelines with diagnosis tools, NBS scenario modeling, zoning, and impact assessment frameworks.
- Implement transformative greening in demo sites, emphasizing blue-green infrastructure, water management, and social innovations like community gardens.
- Build a global network of follower cities (e.g., Mantova, Medellín) for replication, supported by handbooks, business models, and policy toolkits.
Key Deliverables and KPIs
Deliverables included the RUP Handbook, monitoring reports showing reduced urban heat (up to 5°C cooling), improved air/water quality, and 20% biodiversity gains, plus a global NBS platform. KPIs tracked NBS performance (e.g., CO2 sequestration, flood reduction), stakeholder engagement (thousands involved), and replication success in 20+ cities.
