According to JLL, initiatives to increase green space and improve biodiversity are part of a more holistic sustainability agenda that looks beyond decarbonization.

Addressing climate change in cities means more than making buildings net-zero; enhancing nature and protecting local wildlife are just as essential in efforts to build more sustainable and resilient spaces.

Biodiversity, the variety of plant and animal life in a habitat, is a key measure of how healthy a city is.

"Improving biodiversity is part of a more holistic approach to tackling decarbonization, rather than looking at emissions in isolation," says Jeremy Kelly, Director of Global Research, City Futures at JLL.

As cities grapple with the consequences of urbanization, such as urban heat islands, and the effects of climate change, such as droughts and rapid floods, a healthy and diverse natural ecosystem can mitigate these impacts by sequestering carbon, providing shade and cooling, capturing water runoff, and protecting coasts from erosion.

"We're facing a global biodiversity crisis that is interconnected with the climate crisis," says Amanda Skeldon, Director, Climate and Nature at JLL. "As our cities expand and we concrete over landscapes, we're creating less resilient places exposed to higher risks from climate change. Restoring and protecting biodiversity can build resilience."

In response, many cities are increasingly committing to developing more green coverage, according to the JLL Decarbonizing Cities report. Mayors from 31 cities, including Los Angeles, Mumbai, Paris, Stockholm, and Sydney, have signed the C40 Urban Nature Declaration, committing to ensure that 30-40% of the city's total built-up area is made up of green or permeable spaces by 2030, and 70% of residents can access green (vegetation-based) or blue (water-based) public spaces within a 15-minute walk or bike ride.

Amsterdam's Resilio initiative, a partnership between the city government and eight partners, is transforming roofs into "blue-green" roofs with greenery and rainwater storage, easing the drainage system while cooling during droughts.

"Cross-sector collaboration is the only way cities can restore nature to a level that truly benefits people and the environment. This requires commitment from investors, property owners, local authorities, and businesses," says Skeldon.

Thinking Big

Developers and forward-thinking property owners incorporate green infrastructure, such as green walls, outdoor green spaces, and rooftop beehives, and integrate biodiversity. The largest property owners in central London have formed the Wild West End partnership to build a green corridor, while Berkeley Group's Green Quarter in the city's west is part of the developer's commitment to create 450 acres of new or improved habitat.

Scalable solutions are critical. In Melbourne, which plans to increase tree coverage from 22% to 40% by 2040, the Urban Forest Fund provides grants for greening projects, such as green roofs, to help drive adoption by buildings and larger developments.

"Green spaces enhance a city's life," says Rupert Davies, Global Research Analyst at JLL. "This will become increasingly important for a city's competitiveness as businesses settle into hybrid and remote work, and personal well-being becomes a priority."

Local residents also benefit equally from improved air quality, reduced traffic noise, and better mental and physical health from a stronger connection to nature.

As awareness of the benefits grows, so does the demand for buildings that embrace biophilic design and greenery.

"Integrating biodiversity, especially in larger developments, will attract occupants and enhance the overall asset value, so there's a financial incentive that may not have existed a decade ago," says Davies.

However, today's decision-making must look far beyond short-term gains. "There's an opportunity to significantly improve the quality of life, as well as business income, by creating cities that are truly more viable and sustainable in the long term, as they become more resilient to climate change," says Skeldon. "This resilience is what real estate companies – alongside cities – need to aim for, rather than simply responding to market demand or surpassing legislation."

Shaping the Future

Future regulations will impact how developments are built.

A EU policy to reduce threats to the ground, such as landslides and floods, will limit the amount of concrete used on surfaces. "This will limit the city's expansion and will have a particular impact on the design of logistic space," says Kelly.

Starting from 2023, the UK's Biodiversity Net Gain legislation will require new projects to enhance biodiversity. However, considering that 80% of the buildings in the UK that will exist in 2050 are already built, legislation addressing retrofitting is even more crucial, as biodiversity regulations are uneven globally.

"It's a step in the right direction, but what's mandatory now won't bring a response fast enough to mitigate climate change," says Skeldon. "We urgently need pioneering actions at the city level to inform legislation."

City governments developing voluntary public-private partnerships have an advantage in driving innovation on a large scale that can guide urban planning in other cities.

"Biodiversity is crucial to address for cities if they want to develop resilience against climate impacts that could make them unviable," says Kelly.