From grey to green: life support for human habitats
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(Published version)
Date
2012
Authors
Pitman, S.
Ely, M.
Editors
Chileshe, N.
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Conference paper
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Proceedings of the 6th International Conference and Workshop on the Built Environment in Developing Countries, 2012 / Chileshe, N. (ed./s), pp.326-346
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6th International Conference and Workshop on the Built Environment in Developing Countries (ICBEDC 2012) (4 Dec 2012 - 5 Dec 2012 : Adelaide, South Australia)
Abstract
The value of ‘green infrastructure’ in urban environments is being increasingly recognised around the world. The rapid expansion of towns and cities contains a real risk of creating unliveable environments, places that are unhealthy for many reasons and on a number of levels. What is critically important for the sustainable future of human habitats is that the benefits of ‘green’ infrastructure are recognised, understood and valued, and for ‘green’ infrastructure to be designed into the urban environment from the very beginning. A traditional approach to urban environments is to design and construct buildings (‘built’ infrastructure) and services (‘grey’ infrastructure) and then, in the leftover places where space and light and water are sufficient, to plant some trees, shrubs or lawns. This unfortunate approach has led, in simple terms, to a lack of nature and translates into numerous problems such as heat absorbing and radiating surfaces, high energy consumption and costs, poor air quality, dysfunctional hydrological regimes, changed soil chemistry and behaviour, poor noise management, wind tunnel effects, loss of wildlife habitats and corridors, and high costs for human physical and mental health and well-being. In essence, without sufficient ‘green’ infrastructure, towns and cities are unhealthy, expensive and unsustainable places. This paper defines green infrastructure, summarises the compelling evidence base for incorporating green infrastructure into urban environments and proposes a set of guiding principles for green infrastructure. Finally this paper describes the process by which The Green Infrastructure Project is working with diverse audiences and stakeholders to achieve its vision of South Australians living in healthy, resilient and beautiful landscapes that sustain and connect people with plants and places.
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Copyright [2012] Sheryn Pitman; proceedings copyright ICBEDC