Document Type
Article
Publication Date
2024
DOI
10.1038/s42949-024-00143-2
Publication Title
npj Urban Sustainability
Volume
4
Issue
1
Pages
22 (1-10)
Abstract
We present the Urban Nature Indexes (UNI), a comprehensive tool that measures urban ecological performance under one standard framework linked to global commitments. The UNI was developed by interdisciplinary experts and evaluated by practitioners from diverse cities to capture each city’s ecological footprint from local to global scale. The UNI comprises six themes (consumption drivers, human pressures, habitat status, species status, nature’s contributions to people, and governance responses) that encompass measurable impacts on climate change, biodiversity loss, ecosystem services, pollution, consumption, water management, and equity within one comprehensive system. Cities then adapt the UNI to their context and capacity by selecting among indicator topics within each theme. This adaptability and holistic approach position the UNI as an essential instrument for nature-positive transformations. With the institutional support of IUCN, the UNI offers an opportunity for cities to assess and enhance their contributions towards a more sustainable and biodiverse future.
Original Publication Citation
Pierce, J. R., Costadone, L., Mannetti, L., Morpurgo, J., Green, C. E., Halder, M. D., Guijosa, P. A. L., Bogan, A. L., Galt, R., & Hughes, J. (2024). Urban Nature Indexes tool offers comprehensive and flexible approach to monitoring urban ecological performance. npj Urban Sustainability, 4(1), 1-10, Article 22. https://doi.org/10.1038/s42949-024-00143-2
ORCID
0000-0002-8143-9466 (Costadone)
Repository Citation
Pierce, J. R., Costadone, L., Mannetti, L., Morpurgo, J., Green, C. E., Halder, M. D., Guijosa, P. A. L., Bogan, A. L., Galt, R., & Hughes, J. (2024). Urban Nature Indexes tool offers comprehensive and flexible approach to monitoring urban ecological performance. npj Urban Sustainability, 4(1), 1-10, Article 22. https://doi.org/10.1038/s42949-024-00143-2
Supplemental Materials
Costadone-2024-UNIReportingSummary.pdf (5292 kB)
Reporting Summary
Included in
Biodiversity Commons, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Commons, Environmental Studies Commons, Urban Studies and Planning Commons
Comments
© 2024 The Authors.
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Data Availability: Article states: "Data used to inform the UNI has been provided where possible in the supplementary materials for this paper, though individual responses and comments have not been provided in order to maintain confidentiality. The corresponding author can be reached for reasonable requests. The latest version of the UNI can be found on IUCN Library System: https://portals.iucn.org/library/node/50782."