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With the global temperature on a constant rise with each passing year there’s an urgent need to implement long-term measures, especially in urban areas where effects like urban heat island and hydrological changes such as increased surface runoff rainwater are constantly causing major discomfort to the well-being of city dwellers.
Illustration by The Geostrata
Among all the mitigation and adaptation strategies, urban green infrastructure tops the list by making a substantial contribution to both climate change adaptation and reducing greenhouse gas emissions of dynamically developing urban areas undergoing major socio-demographic and economic change.
Urban green infrastructure refers to a strategically planned connective matrix of greenspaces that can be found in and around urban areas. They provide many complimentary benefits for ecological, economic and social spheres and have been increasingly viewed as a concept that both planners and practitioners can draw to alter the trajectory of future greenhouse gas emissions.
However, too many cities are not accommodating this concept in the mainstream planning practice primarily due to several shortcomings in existing political and legal frameworks, including lack of coordination, insufficient financial and human resources, and the lack of awareness.
CLIMATE ADAPTATION VIA GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE
The process of urbanisation has replaced vegetated surfaces which provide shades and evaporative cooling with concrete structures and tarmac roads. These altered thermodynamics and aerodynamic characteristics of the cities tend to trap more heat as compared to their rural counterparts creating an ‘urban bubble’ along with air pollutants.
While the use of urban greenspace offers significant potential in moderating the increase in summer temperatures expected with climate change, in several urban areas where the built form is already established, it is not feasible to create new large green spaces.
Thus, the greenspaces will have to be added creatively through the greening of roofs, building facades, street tree planning, and converting selective streets into greenways.
In addition to this, the increase in vegetation through urban green infrastructure tends to reduce solar heat gain in buildings and subsequently reduces the demand for mechanical cooling through air conditioners, which reduces both the greenhouse gas emissions as well as the intensification of the urban heat island through waste heat.
Furthermore, urban tree cover provides a reduction in air pollution, ultraviolet radiation which ultimately improves mental health and immune responses, further reducing stress, fostering active living, and repulses cardiovascular diseases of an individual.
RIGHT APPROACH FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF URBAN GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE
Climate change is no longer some far-off problem and there is an urgent need for the development of resilient cities wherein long term systemic changes are required. Practically however, the heat action plans are largely fixated on emergency responses such as strategic provisioning of drinking water and oral rehydration salts.
Thus, in order to strengthen the coping and adaptive capacity of the urban population, it is crucial to integrate mitigation strategies like green infrastructure in the landscape management process as a concept of mainstream town planning practice.
Integration of policy planning and its execution, landscape assessment, and organisational cooperation are all ideas that underpin the growth of green infrastructure, and are equally important developments in policy frameworks aimed at mitigating climate change as a whole.
Like other urban planning mechanisms, green infrastructure planning must take into account the needs of the environment, and local perceptions to develop creative green spaces. To achieve these objectives a range of practices have to be put into place, some of which are as follows:
The development of urban green infrastructure needs to take into account the medical, ecological, economic and social influences of the specific city, which will help determine the extent to which they are compatible with the long term viability of urban renewal.
Additionally, the study of these contextual factors contribute to improving the understanding of the policy and legal frameworks needed to foster the development of urban green infrastructure worldwide, thus promoting more sustainable and environmentally friendly solutions for cities and communities.
As a mechanism to mitigate the effects of climate change, green infrastructure must be developed at an appropriate scale in accordance with the geography and demography of the specific area as cities with high population density require a larger green cover when compared to cities with low density population.
Urban green infrastructure requires effective coordination between sectors such as urban planning, energy, transport, environment etc, underscoring the need to identify the challenges related to cross-sector coordination and subsequently improve the integration of various approaches suited for different stakeholders and government departments through a multidisciplinary approach.
Educating professionals, and especially the young population on the potential of green infrastructure, and its importance could help provide a strong knowledge base for general awareness. Furthermore, youth dialogue and their participation in negotiation and formulation round discussions can significantly help in adoption, and implementation of such policy frameworks.
Urban green infrastructure plays a vital role in reducing urban heat island effect, followed by the reduction in greenhouse gas emissions and consequently leaves a positive impact on the well-being of an individual.
Yet, while implementing the strategy the policymakers and urban city planners fail to ascertain the logistics. Additionally, the huge challenges of global urbanisation including the increasing population in urban areas - close to 7 billion people are expected to live in urban areas by 2050 (UN 2018) - strongly underscores the need for adequate development of urban green infrastructure.
Most urban development projects do not meet the minimal requirement of 9 sq m of green space per individual with an ideal urban green space of 50 sq m per capita, as recommended by the World Health Organization.
In conclusion, Urban green infrastructure is decisive for urban liveability, sustainability, and resilience and thus requires collaborative actions with a strong agreement on conceptual understanding and practical processes.
BY PEARL NIRWAN
TEAM GEOSTRATA
A great and insightful read indeed!
A great read
very well written
Insightful!