Study #35

Figure: Nature-based Solutions (NbS)-based bioremediation approaches in urban areas for the removal of urban pollutants such as inorganic contaminants, organic pollutants, and microplastics. Key processes include microbial degradation, sorption, and abiotic reactions (source: frontiers - frontiersin.org).

Nature-based solutions insights - Turning polluted urban soils into climate solutions

In 2025, scientists from the University of Turin (Italy) and the Institute of Soil Science and Plant Cultivation in Puławy (Poland) reviewed how Nature-Based Solutions (NbS) can heal damaged urban soils and make cities more resilient. They found that green infrastructure, from urban forests to green roofs and wetlands, can enhance soil organic carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, and biodiversity, while bioremediation techniques help remove heavy metals, petroleum hydrocarbons, and even microplastics from contaminated land.

Cities don’t always need more concrete technologies, and sometimes they need more nature.

The authors show that combining green infrastructure with microbial and plant-based remediation can cool cities, improve air and water quality, restore ecosystems, and support healthier urban living. The challenge now? Scaling these solutions fast enough for growing climate and pollution pressures.

Celletti, S., Poreba, L., Wawer, R., Padoan, E., Comis, S., Bartosiewicz, B., & Schiavon, M. (2025). The potential of nature-based solutions for urban soils: Focus on green infrastructure and bioremediation. Frontiers in Environmental Science, 13, 1634662.
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