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The TERRA Associate Laboratory has just released its latest Policy Brief, which focuses on urban renaturalization as an essential tool for addressing the climate crisis and improving public health in Portugal — “Greener Cities: Scientific Evidence to Inform Public Policies on Urban Renaturalization.”
This is the second of four Policy Briefs produced as part of the TERRA Policy Hub, a collaborative event that brought together approximately 40 researchers from TERRA’s five Research Units in December 2025, reinforcing the interdisciplinary approach that characterizes the Associate Laboratory.
The report —“Greener Cities: Scientific Evidence to Inform Public Policies on Urban Renaturalization” (“Cidades Mais Verdes: Evidência científica para informar políticas públicas de renaturalização urbana”) — warns of the growing vulnerability of Portuguese cities, resulting from the expansion of gray infrastructure (concrete, asphalt, roads), the loss of natural systems, and the intensifying impacts of climate change. Among the main problems identified are soil sealing, the reduction of vegetation cover and biodiversity, ecological fragmentation, increased air and water pollution, and the greater occurrence of phenomena such as urban heat islands and flash floods.
According to the authors, “the lack of integrated green infrastructure policies is currently one of the main obstacles to urban resilience, spatial justice, and territorial cohesion, as well as to sustainable development.”
Scientific evidence for more resilient cities
The research summary presented in the Policy Brief demonstrates that green infrastructure is an effective, measurable, and cost-effective solution for reducing urban risks and improving public health. Among the identified benefits are:
The document also emphasizes that selecting plant species suited to the local environment, water efficiency, maintenance costs, and climate resilience are essential factors for the success of these initiatives. Community participation is equally crucial: “Without community involvement, the benefits of renaturalization tend to be temporary,” the researchers note.
Three strategic recommendations for public policymakers
To address the challenges identified, the Policy Brief presents three operational recommendations for national, regional, and local decision-makers:
1. Incorporate green infrastructure proposals into land-use planning tools
2. Prioritize vulnerable areas and communities
3. Integrate public health into urban planning and design
The document also includes policy options that allow for the assessment of impacts in terms of effectiveness, costs, regional equity, and benefits for health and climate resilience. The evidence shows that consistent investments in green infrastructure generate progressive savings in health, energy, and climate risk management.
A systemic approach to the future of cities
Urban renaturalization is presented as a key strategy for public health, territorial justice, and climate adaptation. TERRA emphasizes that only systemic, interdisciplinary, and evidence-based approaches will enable Portuguese cities to become more resilient and sustainable.
The Policy Brief was prepared by a multidisciplinary team comprising Paulo Morgado (coord.), Ana Paula Ramos, António Lopes, Cristina Bárbara, Jorge Durán, Manuel Bicho, Paula Castro and Teresa A. Paço, incorporating contributions from four of TERRA’s five research units (CEG, LEAF, ISAMB, and CFE).
The document is available as open access here: zenodo.org/records/20182884
It can also be viewed on TERRA’s official website: labterra.pt/policy-briefs
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DOI 10.54499/LA/P/0092/2020
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DOI 10.54499/LA/P/0092/2020