Green infrastructure in cities for the achievement of the un sustainable development goals: a systematic review

Cities, in continuous growth, are at a critical moment to guarantee economic, social and environmental stability, as recognised by the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. This study aims to demonstrate how Green Infrastructure (GI) can contribute, as spaces of opportunity in cities, to achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in metropolitan areas. And by doing that, more substantial support from urban planners and decision-makers may be performed. A systematic literature review based on the PRISMA method was conducted, 694 records were identified, and 100 articles were thoroughly reviewed. The main finding suggested that 17 SDGs and 74 (44%) of its 169 targets may be achieved through a single strategy; the implementation of nature in the city and the use of the ecosystem services that the environment provides to its advantage. The analysis shows the need for a system change in urban areas worldwide, where GI can contribute to 80% of the targets in SDG11, "Sustainable Cities and Society." The metropolis remains the most efficient area to test and implement green solutions to have an immediate impact on achieving the SDGs. It is imperative to take climate action, and GI can be used as an urban catalyst for sustainability and, consequently, resilience in contemporary cities. Graphical Abstract