Urban Gardens as Nature‑Based Solutions for Food Security and Climate Challenges in European Cities

Abstract Book of the 7th World Conference on Climate Change and Global Warming

Year: 2026

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Urban Gardens as Nature‑Based Solutions for Food Security and Climate Challenges in European Cities

George Zaimes, Valasia Iakovoglou, Lia Van Wesenbeeck, Daniel Constantin Diaconu, Vassilis Litskas, Klervie Tocze, Efthalia V. Zaimes

ABSTRACT:

The Covid‑19 lockdown exposed critical vulnerabilities in global food systems, as income losses and supply chain disruptions significantly reduced food access, especially in urban areas. The war in Ukraine further highlighted the dependence of many European countries on external food sources, underscoring the need for more resilient, localized, and circular food systems. These challenges have been intensified by refugee inflows, and similar pressures are expected to persist across EU member states in the coming years.
At the same time, accelerating urbanization compounds these issues. In 2023, 76% of the EU population lived in urban areas, far above the global average of 57%. Urban environments face additional stress from the Urban Heat Island Effect, which drives higher temperatures, increases energy demand, deteriorates air quality, and elevates health risks and impacts that disproportionately affect low‑income and minority communities. Nature‑based solutions, including green roofs, green walls, rain gardens, parks, street trees, and urban wetlands, offer effective strategies for mitigating these effects.
Within this context, urban gardens represent a key form of urban agriculture that strengthens food security, enhances climate resilience, and reduces heat, while supporting circularity and aligning with the Sustainable Development Goals and the European Green Deal. The FEED4FOOD Driving Urban Transitions project has established pilot Living Labs in Drama (Greece), Strovolos (Cyprus), and Bucharest (Romania) to showcase sustainable urban agriculture models. These initiatives advance local food production, promote urban greening, and empower vulnerable groups, providing valuable evidence for policymakers, communities, and innovators seeking to build regenerative, inclusive, and climate‑resilient urban food systems across Europe.
Currently, Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) have been defined for each of the Living Labs to determine what types of data to be collected. The KPIs developed so far include: KA1 Economic Viability, KC1‑P Effective Training, KC3 Nutritious Food Production, KC4 Native Varieties Cultivation, and KC5 Water Reuse. The KPI data are being collected for all three Living Labs and uploaded to the FEED4FOOD dashboard. The purpose of the dashboard is to gather data through an easy‑to‑use and accessible interface capable of handling different types of data sources. It also provides multiple visualization options and customizable features depending on user needs.
Based on the collected and analyzed data, detailed guidelines are being developed on how to establish successful Living Labs in cities with diverse population sizes, climatic conditions, and social contexts.

Keywords: Urban agriculture, Food security, Climate resilience, Circular economy, Dashboard, Living Labs, Urban Heat Island Effect