Assessment and Evaluation of Economic Indicators for Nature-based Solutions: A Case Study of Turin

Climate change presents profound challenges, significantly impacting ecosystems and societies. Recent extreme events such as heatwaves, wildfires, and floods underscore the urgent need for effective mitigation and adaptation strategies. Nature-based Solutions (NbS) offer sustainable approaches to address these challenges while delivering economic, social, and environmental benefits. This thesis examines the cost-effectiveness of NbS within the GREEN-INC European Project in Turin, Italy, using two key economic indicators: (1) direct and indirect losses from urban heat island (UHI) effects and flooding risks, and (2) the ongoing maintenance costs of green and blue infrastructure. Economic impacts were assessed using a multidisciplinary framework for UHI and an integrated model for flood risk. Between 2020 and 2023, UHI-related economic losses increased by 6.93%, while annual flood-related losses rose by 2.3% from 2020 to 2024. Maintenance costs for four NbS case studies were analyzed through a quantitative approach, including a comprehensive literature review. The findings highlight the escalating economic toll of climate-related hazards in Turin and underscore the necessity of multidisciplinary methodologies for evaluating and mitigating these impacts. Furthermore, the results demonstrate the critical role of NbS in enhancing urban resilience, providing valuable insights for climate adaptation strategies and policy development.