Urban Green Infrastructure for Climate Benefit: Global to Local

Abstract

Urban Green Infrastructure can be especially beneficial in addressing
climate change challenges to our cities. Five systems of green infrastructure
social, biological, hydrologic, circulatory, and metabolic provide
integrated, multiple benefits. These systems may mitigate anthropogenic
impacts to climate through reducing greenhouse gases in the atmosphere
while simultaneously helping to reduce the inevitable negative
effects that climate change will have on urban environments and populaces.
The paper outlines forthcoming climate change challenges and
describes the capacity of each of the five systems to provide multiple,
overlapping benefits. It then analyzes each systems capacity to contribute
to global climate mitigation while diminishing local adverse impacts
to urban contexts, supported by relevant projects with examples from
North America, Asia and Europe. The paper concludes with propositions
for adaptive mitigation and considerations for incorporating green infrastructure
in urban planning and design.