In 2024, the Municipality of Palermo received the Certificate of Good Territorial Practice for a More Sustainable Italy from the Italian Alliance for Sustainable Development (ASviS). This recognition highlights Palermo’s Integrated Urban Planning Methodology that leverages Nature-Based Solutions (NBS), developed within the wider context of innovative European urban sustainability initiatives, including the euPOLIS project. The award signifies a meaningful contribution to Italy’s evolving sustainable development efforts at a local scale.

Linking Local Action with Broader Urban Sustainability Goals

The Certificate of Good Territorial Practice, awarded by ASviS, spotlights initiatives that embody practical, replicable models advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Palermo’s approach reflects a methodology increasingly embraced across Europe — one that harnesses natural systems and community participation to foster urban resilience, improve public health, and enhance well-being.

The Integrated Urban Planning Methodology that Palermo has implemented resonates closely with a growing paradigm exemplified by projects like euPOLIS. This European research and innovation project promotes nature-based urban transformations that integrate ecological functions with social, cultural, and economic dimensions, enhancing city livability while addressing challenges such as biodiversity loss, water scarcity, and fragmented urban spaces.

Nature-Based Solutions and Participatory Urban Renewal

At the heart of Palermo’s initiative is the deployment of Nature-Based Solutions that restore and leverage natural assets in urban environments. This strategy aligns with the core euPOLIS objectives: creating more resilient, inclusive, and accessible urban spaces by systematically integrating blue-green infrastructure and promoting active community involvement.

The broader euPOLIS framework aims to implement planning methodologies that support public health and well-being through the inclusion of natural elements in the urban fabric. It encourages participatory governance models that engage diverse citizen groups, ensuring interventions are tailored to local needs and embody sustainability principles over the long term.

Towards Sustainable Urban Ecosystems in Italy and Beyond

Palermo’s certification by ASviS is a tangible example of how localized, nature-based urban planning efforts contribute to wider European efforts in regenerating cities sustainably. Such recognition underscores the importance of collaborative, knowledge-driven advances that not only protect the environment but also enrich social cohesion and economic vitality.

As urban challenges become increasingly complex, the evolution of planning approaches—like those promoted by euPOLIS and exemplified in Palermo—points toward a future where cities are healthier, more resilient, and connected more deeply with nature and their communities.

Author: Elenia Drago, Comune di Palermo