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Urban heat mitigation by green and blue infrastructure: Drivers, effectiveness, and future needs
Prashant Kumar1,2,3, Sisay E Debele1, Soheila Khalili1
1Global Centre for Clean Air Research (GCARE), School of Sustainability, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford GU2 7XH, UK.
Innovation (Cambridge (Mass.))
|March 5, 2024
Summary
Urban green-blue-grey infrastructure (GBGI) effectively cools cities, but research on many types is limited. This review synthesizes evidence to guide future urban planning for heat mitigation and resilience.
Area of Science:
- Urban Climatology
- Environmental Planning
- Climate Change Adaptation
Background:
- Urbanization and global warming exacerbate urban overheating and extreme heat events.
- Green-blue-grey infrastructure (GBGI) offers potential for urban cooling.
- Existing reviews lack comprehensive, quantified data on GBGI cooling benefits and implementation guidance.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically review and synthesize evidence on the heat mitigation capabilities of GBGI.
- To identify knowledge gaps and provide practical recommendations for GBGI implementation.
- To inform policymakers and urban planners for effective heat risk reduction.
Main Methods:
- Systematic literature review of 27,486 papers, with 202 selected for analysis.
- Categorization of 51 GBGI types under 10 main divisions.
- Analysis of quantified cooling benefits and consideration of future climate change impacts.
Main Results:
- Botanical gardens (5.0°C), wetlands (4.9°C), green walls (4.1°C), street trees (3.8°C), and vegetated balconies (3.8°C) showed the highest cooling efficiencies.
- Certain GBGI types (e.g., green walls, parks, street trees) are well-researched, while others (e.g., zoological gardens, golf courses) have received minimal attention.
- Projected climate shifts (RCP8.5, 2070-2100) may reduce the future efficiency of current GBGI strategies.
Conclusions:
- A comprehensive inventory of GBGI heat mitigation is needed, balancing cooling performance with other co-benefits.
- Policymakers and planners can use this evidence to prioritize interventions and enhance urban resilience.
- Further research is crucial for understudied GBGI types and their long-term effectiveness under climate change.
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