Climate change is a prevalent problem across the globe. Yet, we subconsciously associate this issue restricted to affecting only the polar bears, snow leopards, and turtles living in the North Pole. However, this is a misconceived notion.
The reality is that the increasing pollution in the environment has direct implications on the survival of humans all around the world.
With growing awareness about this subject, many leading urban cities across the globe have resorted to a Blue-Green Infrastructure (BGI). This approach provides solutions to enhance resilience to climate change in alliance with the health of ecosystems. Â
In this article, we will provide you with the comprehensive knowledge required to understand the importance of Blue-Green Infrastructure and its efficient management.
What is Blue-Green Infrastructure?
Blue-Green Infrastructure is an approach opted by many urban cities to combat climate change and environmental degradation. It does this with the help of a few environment-friendly solutions. This idea primarily focuses on urban flood resilience and aims to restore the health of ecosystems.
In its essence, Blue-Green Infrastructure is a network of natural and semi-natural areas. These areas come in various sizes, designed and managed strategically to provide improved water quality. They also offer environmental, economic, and social benefits to communities.
Why is Blue-Green Infrastructure Important?
In the past, the world had relied entirely upon Grey Infrastructure to collect stormwater runoff and drain it away from major cities. Grey Infrastructure refers to human-engineered wastewater treatment plans that include cemented pipelines, reservoirs, and other such drainage plants.Â
However, reliance upon Grey Infrastructure led to various unintended negative impacts, affecting the water quantity and quality. These were a result of increased peak flows and total discharges from storms and heavy rains than what was anticipated. Consequently, larger amounts of nutrients and toxins began to deposit and degrade aquatic habitats around urban waterways.
Additionally, combined sewer overflows during wet conditions became breeding grounds for bacteria and toxins. Such pathogens posed a threat to the population's health that relied on the water bodies for nourishment. As a result, the need for Blue-Green Infrastructure came into being – an efficient and effective solution to the grave threats imposed by the outdated and old Grey Infrastructure.
What are the Benefits of Blue-Green Infrastructure?
Various studies demonstrate a host of community benefits if they learn to work with and incorporate natural processes and systems. We have gathered a few advantages of opting for Blue-Green Infrastructure that will benefit all inhabitants of the earth.
1. Efficient Water Regulation
BGI offers a wide range of sustainable urban drainage solutions (SuDS), including water gardens, green roofs, and swales. Such infrastructure can reduce the risk of surface-level flooding. It does so by continuously infiltrating the drainage. Additionally, a green roof can also benefit rainfall resilience as it can absorb up to 100% of the water in optimal conditions.
2. Cooling Effect
Tree plantation is a vital part of BGI solutions. Areas with thick tree plantations next to populated areas tend to decrease the internal summer temperature and raise the temperature by a few degrees in the winter.
Several studies have indicated a positive relationship between ease of temperature management around areas that currently reside under green infrastructure. Additionally, an increase in tree plantation has also proven to be good for the environment and the ecosystems.
3. Improving Air Quality
Another benefit of increasing green infrastructure is the significant improvement in air quality in heavily populated communities. This is especially useful in urban areas populated with factories holding a substantial carbon footprint. Green Infrastructure, such as hedges around pedestrian walkways, green walls, and green oasis, is considered an active participant in reducing air pollution.
Green infrastructure has also garnered considerable criticism for having high maintenance and plantation cost. However, its benefits far outweigh all disadvantages by at least two folds in the long run.
The Bottom Line
It is about time we start regulating the carbon footprint we are generating. After all, this planet is the only home we'll ever have. Blue-Green Infrastructure provides the world with an eco-friendly route to progress further in a sustainable way.
Aside from creating a cleaner and healthier environment for the earth's inhabitants, this phenomenon also incentivizes stakeholders in industry, policy, and community to invest in the greater good and expand in an ethical and viable manner.
The power it harnesses aims to create a strong interrelationship between vegetation (green) and water cycle (blue), subsequently improving living conditions within a city.
FAQs
Blue-Green Infrastructure is an approach opted by many urban cities to combat climate change and environmental degradation. It does this with the help of a few environment-friendly solutions. This idea primarily focuses on urban flood resilience and aims to restore the health of ecosystems.
The reliance upon Grey Infrastructure led to various unintended negative impacts, affecting the water quantity and quality. Additionally, combined sewer overflows during wet conditions became breeding grounds for bacteria and toxins. Such pathogens posed a threat to the population's health that relied on the water bodies for nourishment. As a result, the need for Blue-Green Infrastructure came into being – an efficient and effective solution to the grave threats imposed by the outdated and old Grey Infrastructure.
Some of the benefits of Blue-Green Infrastructure are:
1. Efficient water management
2. Cooling effect
3. Improving air quality
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