As part of the UPSURGE project, we had the pleasure of visiting Prato, the second-largest city in Tuscany, Italy, together with partners and colleagues from the Municipality of Prato. Over two engaging days, we explored the city’s growing portfolio of Nature-based Solutions (NbS) and learned how green infrastructure is being used to create a more sustainable and resilient urban environment.
Site visits: green walls, parks, and schools
Our visit took us to several impressive NbS implementations. We explored green walls and revitalised open spaces in a local social housing complex, visited the Neofite Park (Il bosco delle Neofite), a green public space funded through a unique art auction, and toured a large school complex where new green interventions are planned.
Data-driven urban planning
We also learned more about AIRQino, Prato’s environmental sensor network developed by the National Research Council of Italy, that provides real-time data on air quality. The state of the environment and air quality will be monitored before, during, and after reforestation interventions, with an ex-ante and ex-post approach able to quantify the benefits of the interventions. The AIRQino will provide open data and constitute a low-cost observational network model, which can also be replicated in other areas and contexts and can also be managed by the citizens themselves or by other associations in the area. This system plays a key role in supporting evidence-based planning and monitoring the city’s environmental health.
Tools for transformation
- The Regenerative Index, developed by project partner POR, offers a comprehensive view of urban health across seven areas, including air quality, vegetation cover, and social inclusion. Prato will be the next city to calculate this index to guide future actions and track progress.
- In collaboration with Queen’s University Belfast, advanced climate modelling is helping the city understand local heat dynamics and identify priority areas for intervention, essential input for the development of Prato’s Heat Action Plan.
- Researchers from the University of Antwerp introduced a suite of ecosystem services models that help cities like Prato assess trade-offs and optimise benefits such as carbon storage and cooling through thoughtful urban greening.
Financing the future
Our discussions also explored innovative funding models, including public-private partnerships, which will be key to sustaining and scaling green infrastructure projects in Prato and beyond.
Testing the UPSURGE Lighthouse/UrbanbyNature NbS services
We had a session guided by the consultant Umberto Pernice to test and discuss the concrete NbS services (i.e. assessment & preparation, planning & design, implementation & acceleration, monitoring & reporting) that the UPSURGE Lighthouse/UrbanbyNature platform will provide in the coming months to European cities. Prato provided valuable insights based on their own insights.
The UPSURGE team is proud to support Prato in their transition toward a greener, healthier, and more inclusive urban future. We are excited to see how these initiatives evolve and to bring these lessons to other cities across Europe.
