Objectives

The RUEESnexus project aims to deepen understanding of the Ecosystems-Economy-Society (EES) nexus in rural and urban areas to guide policies that support Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the European Green Deal. Key objectives focus on addressing three main methodological challenges:

1. Data: Identifying available data sources across economic, social, and environmental dimensions at regional and sub-regional levels, identifying data gaps, and ensuring data consistency across scales and models.

2. Modelling: Developing an integrated framework to link environmental, economic, and social dimensions coherently, facilitating consistent multi-scale modelling and enabling micro-macro simulations.

3. Analysis: Using the developed models to examine the EES nexus structure, assess trade-offs between ecosystem services, economic activities, and social goals, and evaluate policy impacts or external shocks.

The research will explore the EES nexus structure and trade-offs in Italian rural-urban contexts, the value of rural ecosystem services to urban areas, and the regional impact of development policies. An environmentally extended rural-urban input-output matrix (EE-RUIO), including water flows and ecosystem services' value, is a core analytical tool. Case studies in Liguria, Toscana, and Basilicata will help establish a robust framework applicable to other regions. The project aligns with Italy's National Research Programme and Horizon Europe, supporting ecological transition efforts under Italy’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan.