Nature-based Solutions to Adapt to Local Climate Change: Political Strategies in Brazilian Cities

This article analyzes how Nature-based Solutions are integrated into the urban agenda in Brazilian cities. We sought to understand the co-benefits of those strategies, the main facilitators, their potentials and limitations. This article fills in the gaps of the research on Nature-based Solutions through a political science approach, providing more elements to analyze climate governance in the urban context and is based on the experiences in the Brazilian context. We analyzed two cases in depth, namely the cities of Campinas and Santos. We analyzed official government documents and attended events and meetings that took place between local governments and partner institutions. The results showed that Nature-based Solutions are being integrated into urban planning and development through existing sectoral policies and the regulation of specific policies. Specific institutional arrangements directed towards the challenges of environmental change were important facilitators of the strategies in both cities, driven mainly by the participation of local governments in projects led by cooperation networks of municipalities and international cooperation agencies. We verified a potential for social innovation based on the inclusion of gender issues, the involvement of vulnerable social groups in the planning of actions and a greater understanding of ecosystem services and the co-benefits of NbS, mainly by public managers. The strategies have the potential to be replicated, which generates social learning. There are knowledge gaps regarding the co-benefits of the analyzed strategies, as well as the generated impacts.本文分析了基于自然的解决方案（Nature-based Solutions）如何融入巴西城市的城市议程。本研究旨在厘清此类策略的协同效益、核心推动因素、应用潜力与现存局限。本研究采用政治学研究视角，填补了基于自然的解决方案相关研究的空白，为城市语境下的气候治理分析提供了更多支撑依据，且研究基于巴西本土实践经验展开。研究对两座城市进行了深度案例剖析，即坎皮纳斯市与桑托斯市。研究方法涵盖官方政府文件分析，以及参与地方政府与合作机构举办的各类活动与会议。结果显示，基于自然的解决方案正通过现有部门性政策及专项政策监管，融入城市规划与发展进程。针对环境变化挑战设立的专属制度安排，是两座城市中此类策略落地的重要推动因素，其核心驱动力主要为地方政府参与由市政合作网络与国际合作机构主导的项目。研究发现，通过纳入性别议题、吸纳弱势社会群体参与行动规划，以及提升公共管理者对生态系统服务与NbS协同效益的认知，可催生社会创新潜力。此类策略具备可复制性，能够推动社会学习。当前仍存在知识缺口，包括对所分析策略的协同效益及所产生影响的认知不足。