Tackling climate change within cities is about more than making buildings net zero; boosting nature and protecting the local wildlife is equally paramount in the drive to build more sustainable and resilient spaces.

Biodiversity, the variety of plant and animal life in a habitat, is a key measure of how healthy a city is.

“Improving biodiversity is part of a more holistic approach to tackling decarbonization, rather than looking at emissions in isolation,” says Jeremy Kelly, Global Research Director, City Futures at JLL.

As cities grapple with the consequences of urbanization, such as urban heat islands, and the effects of climate change, such as drought and flash flooding, a healthy and varied natural ecosystem can mitigate these impacts by sequestering carbon, providing shade and cooling, capturing water run-off and protecting coastlines from erosion.

“We’re facing a global biodiversity crisis that is interconnected with the climate crisis,” says Amanda Skeldon, Director, Climate and Nature at JLL. “As our cities expand and we concrete over our landscape, we’re creating less resilient places that are at greater risk from climate change. Restoring and protecting biodiversity can build resilience.”

In response, many cities increasingly committing to developing more green cover, according to JLL’s Decarbonizing Cities report. Mayors from 31 cities including Los Angeles, Mumbai, Paris, Stockholm and Sydney have signed C40’s Urban Nature Declaration committing to ensure 30-40 percent of total built-up city surface area consists of green or permeable spaces by 2030, and 70 percent of residents can access green (vegetation-based) or blue (water-based) public spaces within a 15-minute walk or cycle.

Amsterdam’s Resilio initiative between city government and eight partners transforms rooftops into ‘blue-green’ roofs with greenery and rainwater storage, relieving the drainage system while cooling during droughts.

“Collaboration across sectors is the only way cities can restore nature at a level that truly benefits people and the environment. This requires commitment from investors, property owners, local authorities and businesses,” says Skeldon.