Climate
Rising tempetarures worldwide and especially the heat island effect in cities, heat waves and changes in rainfall pattern are among the many negative effects of climate change. Green spaces in cities help to cool the air – it has been calculated that one healthy tree has the same cooling effect as ten air-conditioning units. Heavy rainfall and flooding constitute another threat to our homes and settlements, urban transportation systems and health. Green infrastructure in cities increases the proportion of pervious surfaces and thus helps rainfall be absorbed into the ground reducing the risk of flooding. While in natural ecosystems around 50% of rainfall infiltrates into the soil (25% shallow infiltration and 25% deep infiltration), 10% runs off and 40% evapotranspirates, in heavilty transformed urban areas these ratios have been very much distorted. It has been calculated that in cities, only 15% of rainfall is able to infiltrate into the ground (10% shallow infiltration and 5% deep infiltration), 30% evapotranspirates and as much as 55% runs off on the surface causing flooding, creating a burden on the sewage system and depriving the soil under the paved surfaces of water necessary to support soil biota. Green Infrastructure is thus a modern tool of alleviating climate induced problems.
Cases
Click on the titles to learn more about each caseVäjxö, Sweden: storm water management

The canal is expected to last about 100 years, with maintenance required (sediment dredging). Since its reopening, the city has experienced only one severe flood. The Linnaeus Canal has helped the city to deal with the increase in rainfall that has occurred over the last fifteen years and may continue to increase due to climate change, as projected in the city’s climate adaptation strategy. The canal has also increased traffic safety by reducing the number of lanes in the street, which is located next to a secondary school. Moreover, as less storm water flows into the lake (instead ending up in the canal and sedimentation lagoons), the lake has fewer pollutants and can continue to play its role as a “beautiful element within the city”.
Source and further information: http://climate-adapt.eea.europa.eu/viewmeasure?ace_measure_id=4301Stuttgart, Germany: green ventilation corridors

Thanks to the project, “over 39% of Stuttgart’s surface area has been put under the protection of nature conservation orders … greenery covers more than 60% of the city. Stuttgart contains 5,000 hectares of forests and woodland, 65,000 trees in parks and open spaces and 35,000 street trees. 300,000 square meters of rooftops have been greened and 40 out of 250 kilometres of tram tracks have been grassed (as of 2007). In line with the city development vision, 60 hectares of greenfield land previously earmarked for development has been cut from the 2010 land development plan to protect existing green space”
Source and further information: http://climate-adapt.eea.europa.eu/viewmeasure?ace_measure_id=3403
CarpathCC – Climate Change in the Carpathian region

Climate buffers in the Netherlands
Floating houses to fight climate change in the Netherlands

Dutch urban floating houses (Source: http://www.fredhoogervorst.com/photo/43100di/)
Description: The Netherlands implementing climate adaptation measures and building floating houses that are resistant to rising sea level and increase rainfall. 43 such homes were developed in the Steigereiland district in east Amsterdam. The Living with Water civil planning strategy involves re-flooding of formerly diked marshes, bringing defunct canals back into use, building catchment lakes, deepening rivers, moving dikes away river edges and redirecting rivers where necessary. 39 projects in river areas are currently being executed within the country’s flood protection program.
Cost of the program: 2.3 billion euros (39 projects)
Resources: http://www.inspirationgreen.com/floating-homes.html http://www.dw.de/floating-houses-to-fight-climate-change-in-holland/a-17532376
Resources
The Value of Green Infrastructure for Urban Climate Adaptation Reducing Climate Risks with Natural Infrastructure. Nature-based solutions to climate change mitigation and adaptation in urban areas Green Infrastructure and Climate Change: Collaborating to Improve Community Resiliency

