Tale of Two Cities: How Nature-Based Solutions Help Create Adaptive and Resilient Urban Water Management Practices in Singapore and Lisbon

Mengmeng Cui, Filipa Ferreira, Tze Kwan Fung and José Saldanha Matos
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Mengmeng Cui: Instituto de Ciências Sociais, University of Lisbon, Av. Prof. Aníbal Bettencourt 9, 1600-189 Lisboa, Portugal
Filipa Ferreira: CERIS, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Rovisco Pais 1, 1049-001 Lisboa, Portugal
Tze Kwan Fung: Centre for Nature-Based Climate Solutions, Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Science Drive 4, Singapore 117558, Singapore
José Saldanha Matos: CERIS, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Rovisco Pais 1, 1049-001 Lisboa, Portugal

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 18, 1-22

Abstract: Nature-based solutions (NbS) are increasingly recognized as viable tools for sustainable urban water management. This article explores the implementation of NbS in two distinct cities, Singapore and Lisbon, to demonstrate that NbS can work in very different contexts and spark new thoughts on the urban–nature relationship and to identify commonalities that drive and enable the implementation of NbS in different context. Literature review-based research was conducted to examine the types of NbS implemented, the common drivers, the governance model, and the plural functionalities of the solutions. The research shows that, despite the differences, the two cities shared common drivers (including water supply, flood control, and resident demand for green space) and goals, such as improving water quality and overall quality of life, through the deployment of NbS. With rapid urban expansion, water use increase, and the impacts of climate change, NbS can be effective tools to deliver integrated benefits and improve the liveability of cities.

Keywords: biodiversity; nature-based solutions; pluralism; water management; blue-green infrastructure; whole of government approach (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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