A systematic review of nature-based solutions for climate action in African cities.
12 affiliations
- 1African Centre for Cities, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.
- 2African Climate and Development Initiative, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.
- 3Biodiversity Management Department, eThekwini Municipality, Durban, South Africa.
- 4School of Agriculture and Science, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Westville, South Africa.
- 5Deltares, Delft, The Netherlands.
- 6School of Social Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa.
- 7African Synthesis Centre for Climate Change, Environment and Development (ASCEND), African Climate & Development Initiative, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.
- 8Climate Risk Lab, African Climate & Development Initiative, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.
- 9People in Nature & Climate Lab, African Climate & Development Initiative, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.
- 10South African National Biodiversity Institute, Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens, Newlands, Cape Town, South Africa.
- 11School of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa.
- 12Faculty of Geo-Information Science and Earth Observation, University of Twente, Enschede, The Netherlands.
Abstract
Nature-based solutions (NbS), including ecosystem-based adaptation, are increasingly proposed for climate action in African cities, but the evidence base is fragmented and lacks systematic synthesis of what is being implemented, where, and how effectively. We analysed 112 studies retained from a systematic review, covering 134 urban areas across 42 countries and including 45 informal settlements. Five NbS typology classes are inductively derived including: Green spaces; Rivers, catchments and drainage systems; Coastal systems; Green buildings; and Urban agriculture and multi-use gardens. Urban green spaces dominate the evidence (49% of studies) and are the most multi-functional class. Urban agriculture and multi-use gardens are under-recognised in headline framings, named as primary in only 5% of studies but appearing in 34% of the wider intervention mix. Evidence is increasing but concentrates geographically on larger cities. Successful climate change adaptation and mitigation outcomes are reported by 72% and 27% of studies, respectively. Heat mitigation is the most frequently quantified adaptation outcome, with temperature reductions up to 12.2 °C reported in proximity to urban green and blue spaces across the continent. Qualitative evidence links urban NbS to effective coastal protection, flood risk reduction, and increased water security. Multi-stakeholder governance anchored by local actors, and meaningful community participation are consistent enablers of effective implementation. However, insufficient long-term funding and livelihood disruptions and displacement raise concerns about long-term impacts. Priority research gaps include longitudinal effectiveness monitoring, financing mechanisms for informal contexts, systematic assessment of mechanisms behind inequitable outcomes, and evidence from under-represented regions and smaller cities.
Related
- Perceived vs actual benefits of nature-based solutions for climate adaptation in Dessie City, Ethiopia
- Review article: Climate hazards in African cities – knowledge gaps and research needs
- Coastal Climate Change Adaptation: A Review of Engineering, Nature-Based, Governance, and Socio-Economic Adaptation Strategies
- Projected increase in stress on African potential groundwater resources due to climate change and increased human water use
- Les Solutions fondées sur la Nature tiennent-elles leurs promesses face au changement climatique dans les îles tropicales ?
BibTeX
@article{rule2026systematic,
title = {{A systematic review of nature-based solutions for climate action in African cities.}},
author = {Nicola Frances Rule and Cameron T McLean and Andrew Emmanuel Okem and Promise M Nduku and Johannes Bhanye and Collins Matiza and Fred Sato and Chipo Perseverance Mungenge and Onyekachi Esther Ogunniyi and Ignacio Pita-Vaca and Cherié Janine Forbes and Petra Holden and Christopher H Trisos and Debra C Roberts and Nicholas P Simpson},
journal = {Environmental research letters : ERL [Web site]},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1088/1748-9326/aeb0ba},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42903515},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - A systematic review of nature-based solutions for climate action in African cities.
AU - Nicola Frances Rule
AU - Cameron T McLean
AU - Andrew Emmanuel Okem
AU - Promise M Nduku
AU - Johannes Bhanye
AU - Collins Matiza
AU - Fred Sato
AU - Chipo Perseverance Mungenge
AU - Onyekachi Esther Ogunniyi
AU - Ignacio Pita-Vaca
AU - Cherié Janine Forbes
AU - Petra Holden
AU - Christopher H Trisos
AU - Debra C Roberts
AU - Nicholas P Simpson
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/20
JO - Environmental research letters : ERL [Web site]
DO - 10.1088/1748-9326/aeb0ba
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42903515
AB - Nature-based solutions (NbS), including ecosystem-based adaptation, are increasingly proposed for climate action in African cities, but the evidence base is fragmented and lacks systematic synthesis of what is being implemented, where, and how effectively. We analysed 112 studies retained from a systematic review, covering 134 urban areas across 42 countries and including 45 informal settlements. Five NbS typology classes are inductively derived including: Green spaces; Rivers, catchments and drainage systems; Coastal systems; Green buildings; and Urban agriculture and multi-use gardens. Urban green spaces dominate the evidence (49% of studies) and are the most multi-functional class. Urban agriculture and multi-use gardens are under-recognised in headline framings, named as primary in only 5% of studies but appearing in 34% of the wider intervention mix. Evidence is increasing but concentrates geographically on larger cities. Successful climate change adaptation and mitigation outcomes are reported by 72% and 27% of studies, respectively. Heat mitigation is the most frequently quantified adaptation outcome, with temperature reductions up to 12.2 °C reported in proximity to urban green and blue spaces across the continent. Qualitative evidence links urban NbS to effective coastal protection, flood risk reduction, and increased water security. Multi-stakeholder governance anchored by local actors, and meaningful community participation are consistent enablers of effective implementation. However, insufficient long-term funding and livelihood disruptions and displacement raise concerns about long-term impacts. Priority research gaps include longitudinal effectiveness monitoring, financing mechanisms for informal contexts, systematic assessment of mechanisms behind inequitable outcomes, and evidence from under-represented regions and smaller cities.
SN - 1748-9326
ER -