Experts Call for Nature-Inspired Urban Planning at City 360º Conference
The 2nd International City 360º Conference in Santa Cruz de Tenerife brought together global experts to advocate for sustainable, nature-integrated urban planning driven by community participation and social equity.
Urban planning is at a turning point. With rising populations and the climate crisis, we need to rethink how our cities grow. As discussed at the 2nd International City 360º Conference in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, modern urbanism must go beyond simple construction; it needs to focus on rebuilding communities and weaving nature back into our urban spaces.
The conference, organized by the Santa Cruz de Tenerife City Council and the Santa Cruz Sostenible Foundation—with support from the Moeve Foundation, the Canary Islands Government, and the Cabildo of Tenerife—brought together experts to share lessons from successful urban transformations. Projects like the revitalization of industrial Bilbao and the Prat Nord development in El Prat de Llobregat show that long-term success relies on public-private partnerships and a strong commitment to social unity.
A major theme of the event was "biomimicry"—the idea that cities should function like natural ecosystems. Experts like Melissa Sterry and Jenny Andersson argued that we must move away from resource-heavy growth and toward systems that mimic nature’s resilience. They emphasized that this shift requires citizens to be active participants in designing their own neighborhoods, rather than just passive observers.
The human element remained central throughout the discussions. Specialists like Vicente Zapata and Waldek Olbryk stressed that technology is only useful if it genuinely improves daily life, accessibility, and public health. Beyond theoretical talks, the conference included workshops where participants developed practical ideas for better mobility, greener infrastructure, and climate adaptation.
The consensus among the eight experts in attendance is clear: we must act quickly to create more balanced, sustainable cities. The full presentations and documentation from the conference are now available on the event’s official website, serving as a valuable resource for urban planners across Spain.