Climate change has a global impact, particularly in urban areas. Nature-based Solutions (NbS) are gaining prominence as an important alternative, harnessing natural processes to deliver socio-economic and environmental benefits, particularly in urban and peri-urban areas, owing to their multifaceted nature. In Europe, NbS are being primarily explored in urban environments to enhance resilience to extreme climatic events. This study consisted of a systematic review of 66 projects funded by the European Union (EU) between 2014 and 2023, conducted in accordance with the PRISMA guidelines (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses), a set of standards aimed at improving the quality and transparency of systematic reviews. The review was carried out through the analysis of EU research and development repositories, based on criteria including funding period, project description, geographical location, typology, methods adopted in each project, and the main challenges identified, which underscore the urgency of innovative solutions to manage natural systems in urban environments. The qualitive and quantitative analysis indicates the wide geographical distribution of the projects, with significant applications in countries such as Spain ( n = 76), Italy ( n = 40), France ( n = 36), Germany ( n = 29), and Portugal (with n = 28). Projects were categorized according to their purpose, methodology, and technologies employed, highlighting a diversity of approaches, sufficiently replicable to ensure feasibility in future projects that promote urban sustainability and adaptation to climatic adversities. The urban challenges faced in the implementation of the projects analysed include issues related to the deployment and replication of solutions, community behavioural change, collaboration between different stakeholders, and funding. Furthermore, the various target groups involved reflect a collaborative approach to the co-creation of NbS, aimed at maximizing benefits and strengthening community resilience, with a particular focus on government entities ( n = 50), citizens ( n = 41), the scientific community ( n = 26), the business community ( n = 21), and civil society/NGO ( n = 13), thereby achieving the objectives set. This study underscores the importance of NbS as a tool to address social, economic, and environmental challenges, particularly in cities, contributing to the development of more resilient communities. However, in order to effectively respond to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), greater efforts are required to ensure the inclusion of NbS and a broader variety of measures in public policies, given that 2030 has been set as the target year for achieving the SDGs.

Women’s limited voice in governance and decision-making impedes inclusive climate resilience. This scoping review identifies barriers that hamper women’s participation in AFS decision-making and assesses interventions that amplify their voice and agency. Drawing on two analytical frameworks—the women’s empowerment in AFS governance framework (Ragasa et al., 2022) and the Reach-Benefit-Empower-Transform (RBET) framework (Quisumbing et al., 2023)—we synthesize evidence from 47 studies in the Global South. Barriers are found in two domains: access to climate-relevant agricultural innovations and exclusion from local governance processes. Best practices include gender-responsive extension, social innovations such as self-help groups and digital tools, and organizational strategies including gender budgeting and men’s engagement. We conclude that advancing women's leadership in AFS governance requires multi-level interventions that address structural, sociocultural, and informational inequities. • Women’s limited voice in governance impedes their benefits and participation in agrifood systems. • Uneven access to agricultural inputs and opportunities for shaping local approaches to AFS governance constitute challenges. • Promoting positive gender norms; access to resources; and gender-sensitive, participatory approaches are promising routes.

This study examines the interplay between a polycentric governance system and Community-Based Mangrove Management (CBMM) in two Ecuadorian coastal communities, focusing on how conflicts arising from outsiders entering mangrove concessions are addressed. Employing qualitative methods, including interviews and focus groups with the Power Tower Method, we uncover contrasting approaches to conflict resolution. The southern community illustrates how a polycentric system can function with decision-making centers operating interdependently, showcasing a model of autonomous conflict management through community justice. In contrast, the northern community, while also operating within a polycentric framework, reveals the challenges that arise when diverse actors within such a system experience unequal investment in essential services and political divisions, leading to a greater reliance on state intervention. Differences in the configuration of governance in these areas, particularly in how actors interact, exert influence through their power relations, and utilize their sources of power, alongside the communities' perceptions of power regarding themselves and other stakeholders involved in the conflict, further contribute to these disparities. The study underscores the importance of understanding these diverse interactions, power relations, and power perceptions to enhance local governance and sustainable resource management within polycentric systems.