Green policies create value for cities and communities

Climate action cannot rely on emissions reduction alone. In an interview with ANSA for World Environment Day 2026, Professor Edoardo Croci, SUR Lab Director at Bocconi University, stressed the importance of strengthening adaptation policies alongside mitigation efforts. As climate-related events such as heatwaves and floods become more frequent and severe, cities need new strategies to protect people, infrastructure, and economic activities.

Professor Croci noted that while CO₂ reduction remains the key indicator for measuring climate mitigation, adaptation requires a broader set of metrics that are still being developed and refined. In this context, nature-based solutions—including urban greening, ecosystem restoration, and biodiversity enhancement—offer a particularly effective approach because they contribute simultaneously to climate mitigation and adaptation goals.

According to Croci, investing in green infrastructure is not only an environmental necessity but also a source of value creation. By improving urban resilience, reducing health risks, enhancing public spaces, and supporting local ecosystems, nature-based solutions generate multiple benefits for communities and economies alike.

Looking ahead, a key challenge will be the implementation of the European Nature Restoration Law, which sets ambitious targets for restoring degraded ecosystems across Europe. Italy is currently preparing its National Nature Restoration Plan, due in September 2026, as part of the broader effort to strengthen biodiversity and climate resilience.

The interview reinforces a central message of SUR Lab’s research and policy engagement: sustainable urban regeneration requires working with nature, not only to reduce emissions, but also to build healthier, more resilient, and more prosperous cities.