Addressing the loss of species, habitats, ecosystem health, and genetic diversity.
Living Green in a city provides habitats to support ecological communities for a diverse range of living organisms. Plants provide the backbone for all nature to thrive. City Biodiversity has an increasingly important role to play in global conservation efforts.
Tackling the root causes and effects of climate change in order to build more liveable and resilient cities.
Living Green solutions such as street trees, green roofs and walls, and parks and gardens, all contribute to moderating the impacts of climate change. In solving problems such as the urban heat island effect and poor local air quality, nature-based-solutions deliver quantifiable cash value to city authorities as well as enhancing the quality of life for citizens.
Addressing the medical, behavioural, and social determinants of health for residents.
People are measurably happier when they work and live in green surroundings. This comes from both physical and psychological benefits. Improved health results in lower costs for health-care providers, and benefits the economy through improved productivity and lower absenteeism and staff turnover.
Ensuring water resources are safeguarded and wisely used, with clean water available to all while also protecting residents from flooding risks.
Water issues related to drought and flooding are already a significant impact of climate change, with traditional engineering solutions commonly overwhelmed. Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems incorporate plants into water management systems, thereby offering considerable advantages over engineering solutions, an, at the same time, providing additional benefits of amenity and recreation, and space for wildlife.
Bringing urban populations together and fostering belonging, equity, trust and inter-generational as well as cross-cultural relationships to prevent exclusion, marginalisation, and violence.
Greener environments encourage people to spend more time in outdoor spaces, improving social interaction and community cohesion which in turn contributes to reduced crime. Community cohesion is especially important in multi-cultural communities and also enable inter-generational social relationships.
Creating strategies and practices that build the resilience of city food supplies to increase employment and nutritional outcomes, reduce poverty and address urban environmental degradation.
Promoting and supporting nature-positive lifestyles for all city residents, visitors and businesses, through a well planned, designed, and maintained built environment.