Blog

BLUE-GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE

BLUE-GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE

Blue-Green Infrastructure refers to a network that provides the “ingredients” for solving urban and climatic challenges by a combination of infrastructure, ecological restoration and urban design to connect people with nature.

• Blue indicates water bodies such as rivers and tanks
• Green indicates trees, parks, and gardens.

Western definitions of ‘green infrastructure’ and blue-green infrastructure tend to be synonymous for the most part. Blue features have been included in most definitions specifically pertaining to green infrastructure, and thus cannot simply be categorised as ‘green’ but must be called ‘blue and green’ definitions. The European Commission defines green infrastructure as “strategically planned network of natural and semi-natural areas with other environmental features designed and managed to deliver a wide range of ecosystem services such as water purification, air quality, space for recreation and climate mitigation and adaptation. This network of green (land) and blue (water) spaces can improve environmental conditions and therefore citizens’ health and quality of life. It also supports a green economy, creates job opportunities

Advantages of Blue-Green Infrastructure

• Environmental benefits: Utilising blue-green infrastructure in sectors such as transportation, water, and housing can improve ecosystem health, thereby improving human health and the environment. Incorporating green infrastructure in the city will not only benefit humans but also nature.
• Social benefits: The design and beauty of the landscape can contribute to the identity of the city's character. Green streetscapes and landscapes enhance aesthetic and ethical qualities Blue-green infrastructure can provide shelter in public spaces and reduce the urban temperature and increase outdoor activities which encourage more social gatherings.
• Economic benefits: Implementing blue-green projects in the city may also help the citizens economically. Due to low temperature on building surfaces, it diminishes the cooling demand which results in decreasing energy needs. The life expectancy of the building increases as green infrastructure will protect it from high temperatures, help in lowering maintenance costs, etc.

Challenges of Blue-Green Infrastructure

• Recognition of Urban Areas: Around 8000 towns are counted as urban for population estimation under the Census of India (2011), however, half of them, known as census towns, are still administratively ‘rural’. The lack of ‘urban’ status poses an institutional challenge in terms of planning and management of these settlements that have already attained the urban characteristics.
• Lack of Active Master Plan for Cities: In the present scenario, about 52% of the statutory towns and 76% of the census towns do not have any Master Plans to guide their spatial growth and infrastructural investments. It would be difficult to integrate blue-green projects in these cities.
• Lack of Adequate and Technically Qualified Planners in the Public Sector: It is alarming to find that there is not even one planner per urban centre in India. According to NITI Aayog indicates that over 12000 posts for town planners are required in the country.
• Disconnect between Urban Planning and Urban Land Records: A city is a ‘system of systems’. City planning cannot be done without good maps with clarity of land titles and ownership. Accurate and usable maps of many of the major cities in India do not exist with their functionaries or in the public domain.

The concept of blue-green infrastructure is relatively new, but many global cities have already begun the transition, driven by exacerbating climate impacts and events. While the green infrastructure concept has found some acceptance in India,[91] the country must also consider including blue infrastructure in its sustainability transition. It is important to combine and protect hydrological elements of the urban landscape alongside the ecological while planning for adaptation and resilience. Several scattered attempts are being made in cities across the country and at the central level to introduce blue-green infrastructure aspects for climate adaptation and mitigation. India needs an all-encompassing plan that acknowledges that its cities’ economic and social stability is dependent on the environment, and that the existing blue-green resources will need to be planned mindfully for a sustainable future.