In my last blog (on the implications of extreme heat), I discussed how emerging climate pressures require inclusive adaptation measures for public health and wellbeing. Since then, I have attended a professional bootcamp on using green infrastructure in urban areas.  

The 10-week course, run by professors at the University of the West of England, enlightened me to both classic and novel green design mechanisms that can be employed to mitigate wellbeing hazards worsened by climate change, particularly in densely populated areas. As a city dweller researching climate adaptation and just transition, I have a particular interest in how we can design urban spaces to best serve communities. This is of increasing necessity when we observe relentless extreme weather and general changes in temperatures and weather patterns as a consequence of human-driven climate change.  

Green infrastructure has the potential to be a holistic solution to a number of urban concerns, including helping communities adapt to a changing climate. Like climate change risk, examining urban green space quality and access also reveals inequities in society. Therefore, it is an important area of research and planning.  

Cities face climate risks such as rising temperatures, exacerbated by the ‘urban heat island’ effect – a phenomenon where cities experience significantly higher temperatures due to heat-absorbing materials such as concrete.  This poses health risks, particularly to vulnerable groups such as children, the elderly, and those with pre-existing health conditions. Cities and urban, built-up areas, are also at particular risk of surface and stormwater flooding, with high population density and water run-off worsened by insufficient drainage systems and hard, non-porous surfaces. 

However, these risks can be managed by the introduction of green infrastructure into urban areas. As well as providing aesthetic value and biodiversity gains, the following green features can provide climate adaptation benefits: 

• Plants and trees – can moderate rainfall and provide evapotranspiration, cooling the surrounding environment. 

• Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) – such as rain gardens and swales, reduce water runoff and can help to retain water for drier periods. 

• Green Roofs – depending on which elements are included, have the potential to offer heat island reduction and storm water management. Additional benefits of wellbeing services (particularly if it is an “intensive” green roof, such as a community garden). 

• Parks – urban parks, particularly those with tree canopy, can provide much-needed spaces for shade and relaxation during hot spells 

Climate change also poses risks to existing green features and biodiversity. Urban Green Infrastructure is as vulnerable as any other green space to environmental change. Though we know less about urban green space vulnerabilities, due to the fewer documented cases, the following risks can be identified: 

• Tree loss, with large old trees being most vulnerable 

• Pest and disease, with urban areas being invasion hotspots (Gartner et al., 2017) 

• Wildfire (e.g. in vegetated urban parks) 

Therefore, green infrastructure requires careful planning and governance. This may mean designing well-connected ‘patches’ to create larger habitats for higher ecosystem resilience. Planners may also consider smarter use of existing water and drought-sensitive planting to ensure features can tolerate heatwaves. 

Though the finer details need to be considered to ensure that the most benefits can be gained (and to avoid green gentrification), well-designed green infrastructure can be a positive and multi-benefit intervention, with the UK general public having an appetite for high-quality green and blue spaces. 

Best Practice – Creating inclusive green spaces:  

Planners can codevelop spaces with the community, using schemes such as Birmingham’s Doorstep to Landscape initiative. Rather than imposing solutions, the project empowers communities to reimagine their environments. This can foster better belonging by reducing barriers to the use of these spaces.