In recent decades, the logistics sector has experienced significant growth at both the global and national levels, driven by transformations in production and consumption patterns. In the Lombardy Region, the spread of large logistics facilities has led to substantial land consumption, with significant impacts on ecosystem services, the landscape, and mobility. In response, the region has embarked on a process of regulatory review, introducing tools to govern the location of interventions (Regional Law 15/2024) and introducing increases in monetary contributions to be paid by the implementing entities (Regional Law 18/2019). This paper proposes an estimate, based on Monte Carlo simulations, of the development charges associated with logistics projects and their impact on municipal budgets. The analysis considers uncertainty, the range of possible project sizes, and the regulatory framework observed in a sample of 100 municipalities. The results indicate that this sector generates significant revenue, further increased following the entry into force of Regional Law 18/2019. Although, for the same surface area, there are no significant variations in the overall amount of the development charges, the financial impact varies depending on the size of the municipal budgets, with a proportionally greater impact on less populous municipalities. We argue that the territorial extent of these transformations and their financial impact on municipal budgets, together with the high degree of discretionary power of municipalities, may encourage suboptimal planning choices and have contributed to the sprawl of logistics facilities. Therefore, our findings corroborate the need for the adoption of a supra-local governance model for the sector aimed at reducing negative externalities and guiding interventions through integrated evaluation processes.
The article presents the results of green space projects in urban voids. In Leipzig, the symbolic city of Germany's shrinking cities, where the most significant population loss was recorded after reunification, the renaturalisation project became the urban material with which the administration tried to normalise the shrinking process. By introducing traditional urban park projects, forms of sharing, and urban forestation processes, the numerous urban voids that emerged from the progressive perforation of the city following the demolition of housing and industrial heritage were rethought. Yet, today, Leipzig is also the fastest-growing city in Germany, which has strongly questioned the survival and intent of the renaturalisation experiences. In fact, on the one hand, the re-urbanisation processes underway today have eroded and densified some renaturalisation areas. On the other hand, the presence of green spaces has initiated gentrification or led to the subtraction and weakening of public spaces. Although the projects of urban voids have represented a comprehensive socio-cultural and ecological opportunity for Leipzig over the last thirty years, the logic of capital accumulation and design hypertrophy has prevailed in the model of urban development, which has subtracted or distorted the character of urban voids.
Urban green spaces are a strategic component of city ecological infrastructure, as they can generate significant environmental, health, and social benefits. However, the assessment practices adopted in urban contexts often favour quantitative approaches, focusing on size and accessibility, while neglecting qualitative and management parameters, which are essential for ensuring and maximizing these benefits. Scientific literature highlights how the positive effects of green spaces are closely related to how they are designed, built, and maintained. Starting from a systematic review of the literature, the research developed a qualitative assessment tool aimed at measuring the effectiveness of urban parks in promoting public health (physical, social, and psychological), environmental and climate sustainability, and enhancing ecosystem services. The proposed model is divided into 7 domains and 28 indicators, which can be assessed based on the presence or absence of specific design and management elements, and calibrated according to the size of green spaces, to ensure a scientifically robust and comparable method. The tool was tested in three parks in Milan, representing different size categories. The results confirmed the effectiveness of the scoring system in providing reliable, comparable assessments geared towards identifying the most significant critical issues. Although it has some limitations related to the seasonality of the observations, the tool is an innovative contribution to the field of urban green space quality studies, offering operational support for the planning of high-quality green networks, the reduction of environmental inequalities, and the promotion of healthier, more resilient, and sustainable cities.
Global urbanization exerts profound impacts on both human populations and ecosystems, making equitable and sustainable urban planning an urgent priority to ensure social and environmental justice. Integrated and multidisciplinary approaches are essential for jointly assessing social, economic, and ecological dimensions in urban contexts. This study investigates the opinions of Italian citizens regarding the features, biodiversity, and ecosystem services of urban green spaces. The questionnaire employed in the survey comprised five sections: 1) use and frequency of visits, 2) valued features, 3) perception of biodiversity and ecosystem services, 4) engagement and access to information, and 5) user profile. Data were collected from 2,222 respondents through a mixed-method approach (CATI/CAWI). The survey was conducted across several Italian cities and assessed how opinions on urban green spaces influence self-reported quality of life, in relation to contextual factors and the socio-economic characteristics of respondents. The dataset was simplified through exploratory factor analysis, and the resulting factors were analyzed using a cumulative link model. Findings indicate that respondents who attach importance to the maintenance of green areas are more likely to express positive opinions, whereas respondents in the highest income class had a lower likelihood of reporting positive opinions. The study offers valuable insights into citizens’ opinions, attitudes, preferences, and needs, providing evidence to inform planning and management of urban green spaces. It further underscores the importance of integrating ecological data at the city level in future research.
The impact of heat waves on urban environment is becoming increasingly critical due to the combined effects of global warming, urban morphology, population density and vulnerability. Compact urban areas, often characterized by limited vegetation and high surface impermeability, tend to absorb and retain more solar radiation, generating the phenomenon of urban heat island. The lack of urban greenery not only reduces the capacity for natural cooling - through processes like evapotranspiration and shading - but also limits the delivery of other important ecosystem services that benefit both the environment and urban populations. Socio-economic factors such as population ageing and unequal income distribution can exacerbate the impact of environmental conditions by reinforcing spatial inequalities. These overlapping dynamics highlight the need for spatially informed approaches that consider both the ecological supply of cooling services and the social demand, particularly in relation to environmental justice. This study analyses the cooling capacity of Urban Green Infrastructure (UGI) in Bologna by integrating climatic and socio-demographic data, employing the InVEST model, and exploring their interrelationships through linear regression analysis. The results allow to identify mismatches between the supply of and demand for cooling services, especially in areas inhabited by more vulnerable social groups, providing valuable insights for urban planners and policymakers to design targeted, equitable nature-based and governance strategies that enhance climate resilience and improve the quality of urban life.
