About the research
Rapid urban growth in sub-Saharan Africa is increasing pressure on cities and intensifying climate challenges, including rising temperatures, flooding, and air pollution. My research examined how nature-based solutions can help cities buffer these interconnected climate pressures. Using Hawassa, Ethiopia, as a case study, I investigated how urban nature helps regulate heat, improve air quality, regulate runoff, and store carbon.
Why this research matters
Urban nature can help cities respond to several climate pressures at once, but its benefits depend on where it is located and how it is planned and managed. Understanding both the benefits and possible trade-offs can help cities make better decisions about nature-based interventions and build long-term climate resilience.
Key takeaways
• Plan for connected climate challenges: Cities need approaches that address heat, air pollution, runoff, and greenhouse-gas emissions together rather than treating them as separate problems.
• Make urban nature part of essential infrastructure: Natural systems should be considered in urban planning and climate adaptation, alongside roads, buildings, drainage, and other infrastructure.
• Bridge science and decision-making: Local evidence can help policymakers and urban planners identify where nature-based interventions are most needed, understand their potential benefits, and make informed choices about design and management.
• Build climate resilience through informed decisions: Lessons from rapidly expanding African cities can help guide urban development in other regions facing climate change, limited resources, and increasing pressure on urban systems.
