The future of green infrastructure

Moffat, Andy J.; Sinnett, Danielle; Smith, Nicholas; Burgess, Sarah

Abstract

From its origins in nineteenth-century parks green, infrastructure has been an ever-evolving component of cities. This chapter makes some observations based on a number of key trends in society and emerging patterns of green infrastructure provision to make some suggestions for the future. It looks at how our cities and their citizens are changing and the response required if green infrastructure, in terms of its form and function, is to remain relevant. In addition to our cities shaping green infrastructure, it in turn has a fundamental role to play in future-proofing our cities from challenges, such as climate change, and threats to natural ecosystems and their services on which our health and well-being depend. The management of green infrastructure is also likely to evolve the future, particularly in times of austerity, and require ever greater degrees of collaboration between professions and sectors. However, the future, it is argued, also holds new opportunities for green infrastructure, for example, in terms of new technologies to improve is delivery, streamline its management and monitoring, and facilitate community involvement. What is clear is that green infrastructure will need to be a flexible and dynamic resource that is capable of adapting to cities of the future.

• Publication Date: Nov 27, 2015
• Peer Reviewed: Not Peer Reviewed
• Pages: 445-464
• Book Title: Handbook on Green Infrastructure: Planning, Design and Implementation
• ISBN: 9781783473991
• Keywords: green infrastructure
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/802776
• Publisher URL: http://www.e-elgar.com/shop/handbook-on-green-infrastructure
• Contract Date: Apr 7, 2015