Exploring Urban Metabolism Through Ecosystem Services Mapping: The Case Study of Turin (Italy)

In a scenario of global urbanization and increasing impact of cities on climate change and loss of biodiversity, urban planning has a critical role in the path towards sustainability. The pathway towards climate neutrality requires novel tools and approaches for accounting for different components of urban metabolism relating cities to the surrounding territories. This paper explores the integration of a climate neutrality framework to address climate and biodiversity challenges in urban planning. Through the mapping of crucial ecosystem services (ES), the study presents a methodology to account for the (Eco)system capacity of the urban system, stimulating considerations in respect of urban impact towards inland territories in the case study of Turin, Italy. The study reveals the critical role of ES in enhancing urban sustainability and resilience, offering valuable insights for policymakers toward achieving climate neutrality.