The contemporary world is confronted with the issue of rapid population expansion, which is leading to severe climate conditions and environmental deterioration. The existing infrastructures lack resilience regarding all these issues. Nepali communities are diligently looking for innovative ways for dealing with the inadequate infrastructure that poses a significant risk to both the economic and ecological spheres. Green infrastructure is a viable concept that be a sustainable and resilient method to tackle these obstacles. This article looks into multiple complicated parts of green infrastructure, including its approaches, benefits, challenges, and integration into existing urban frameworks to achieve positive development.
Nepal has been promoting a green economy through dialogues and seminars, with the National Planning Commission and the Poverty Environment Initiative Program supporting these efforts. The focus is on sectors that could contribute to a green economy and the roles of stakeholders in achieving it. Agriculture and forestry are the main sectors, contributing minimal greenhouse gas emissions. However, environmental degradation, urban population growth, and unsustainable forestry management practices are increasing. Nepal needs to adopt green economy policies to remain competitive in the global market. The country can take the greener approach by focusing on agriculture, forestry, infrastructure, energy, and tourism.
Nepal’s government and development partners have endorsed the Kathmandu Declaration, a strategic plan for Green, Resilient, and Inclusive Development (GRID). The plan includes up to $4.2 billion in future support, aiming to promote green growth, jobs, and infrastructure, build resilience to climate change, and ensure equitable access to services for Nepalis. The GRID vision also includes inclusion for women, indigenous groups, and marginalized communities.
Understanding green infrastructure
Green infrastructure involves deliberately integrating green spaces into urban environments to enhance environmental quality and promote sustainable development. This encompasses many natural and semi-natural features such as green parking, green roofs, urban forest, permeable as well as pervious pavement, bioswales and planter boxes. These features demonstrate the diverse capacities of nature to sustain and strengthen humankind in a way that is resilient to alteration and favours human and ecological health. The integration of these environmentally aware elements improves the comfort and dependability of infrastructures, leading to the establishment of liveable environments for biodiversity.
Urban resilience is the ability of urban ecosystems to effectively absorb and quickly recover from diverse shocks and disruptions. Green infrastructure improves resilience by reducing the impact of environmental shocks, regulating temperature, managing water, and encouraging biodiversity. These intrinsic traits reduce vulnerability to severe weather events and the effects of climate change, ensuring that communities can adapt and thrive. Green infrastructure is a practical and effective way to increase urban resilience in Nepali cities, which are increasingly experiencing the effects of climate change, such as heavy monsoons and rising temperatures.
Sustainable urban development
Urban sustainability seeks to create cities that are habitable, equitable, and environmentally conscious. Sustainability involves the ability to endure changes that occur throughout time, assuring both present and future well-being. The term “resilient” is closely associated with “sustainability,” which consistently advocates for environmentally friendly infrastructure as viable options. Green infrastructure also enhances aesthetic appeal, in addition to fostering nature. Apart from social and economic aspects, it adds to the charisma and degree of civilization of the city. The presence of easily reachable green areas within the city boosts both physical and emotional well-being, as well as stimulating social interactions. These various factors contribute to economic development by generating jobs, increasing property value, and recruiting investors.
Holistic framework
A holistic framework for the development of green infrastructure in metropolitan areas should be founded on an integrated strategy with overarching objective to develop a city that is socially inclusive, economically viable, visually appealing, and well-mannered. The planning should consider ecological, social, and economic issues which facilitate comprehension of the interconnected components and interplays that contribute to the efficacy of green infrastructure in enhancing urban sustainability and resilience. Future cities must be capable of accommodating high human densities, enduring extreme temperature extremes, and withstanding other environmental shocks with the aid of hypnotic greenery. The proposed holistic framework for the implementation along with the benefits and co-benefits can be harnessed as depicted in the figure below.
Lessons from Copenhagen and London
Copenhagen’s ambitious “Urban Nature in Copenhagen 2015-2025” program aims to enhance urban nature both quantitatively and qualitatively. Initiatives include increasing green spaces, promoting green roofs, and planting 100,000 additional trees. The city integrates nature-based climate adaptation with recreational areas, creating functional, sustainable, and biodiverse urban nature that fosters community. Copenhagen’s approach highlights the importance of setting clear goals and integrating green infrastructure into the broader urban development agenda.
London’s approach combines a low-carbon circular economy, intelligent digital city initiatives, green infrastructure, and natural capital accounting. The “Healthy Streets Approach” aims to enhance well-being, business growth, and tourism. Projects like the “Wild West End” create green corridors linking existing spaces, enhancing human access to nature and facilitating wildlife movement. London’s strategy emphasizes the need for multi-faceted approaches that incorporate environmental, social, and economic dimensions to create a cohesive and sustainable urban environment.
Approaches for Nepal
Effective green infrastructure development necessitates a comprehensive approach that considers every factor related to policy and governance, planning and design, community engagement, financing and investment and surveillance and assessment concerning to ecological, social, and economic parameters of the country. The approaches have been proposed and depicted in the figure below.
It is essential to create robust legislation and governance systems that help implement and sustain green infrastructure initiatives. Likewise, it is important to foster collaboration among stakeholders for promoting cooperation among government agencies, non-profit organizations, commercial sector companies, and communities to guarantee comprehensive and inclusive green infrastructure programs. We need to formulate policies and create incentives to promote investments in environmentally-friendly infrastructure and sustainable urban development. Green infrastructure should be integrated into urban planning. Green infrastructure must be a basic component of urban architecture since it allows to elegantly blend green materials and elements with advanced infrastructure. The development strategy should prioritize the establishment of abundant green areas that cater to the needs of pedestrians, cyclists, and individuals seeking leisure activities. This will ensure a harmonious coexistence between urban dwellers and the natural world. In the same way, establishing connectivity is important. This includes constructing green infrastructure that links natural and man-made surroundings, improving urban biodiversity and ecological resilience which will facilitate a beneficial metamorphosis of the behaviours, way of life, and surroundings of urban residents.
When it comes to community involvement, it is important to engage communities in the process of planning, designing, and maintaining green infrastructure projects to cultivate a feeling of ownership and responsibility. We need to keep the public informed for increasing knowledge and understanding of the advantages of green infrastructure and encouraging active engagement in environmentally friendly projects. Aiding volunteer programs and community-led initiatives focused on environmental sustainability can help enhance local involvement and capabilities.
Equally important aspect is financing and investment. Identifying and obtaining funds from different sources, such as public, private, and philanthropic contributions is crucial. Also, novel financial frameworks, such as green bonds and public-private partnerships, should be established to bolster green infrastructure initiatives. And we need to showcase economic benefits. Emphasizing aesthetic attributes, cultural enhancement and biodiversity, this strategy in response will attract visitors while strengthening the city’s tourism attractions.
We need to define metrics to create measurements and indicators to assess the performance and effects of green infrastructure projects. Also conducting periodic assessments to ensure that projects achieve their intended goals and objectives is important. We also need to leverage data and feedback to develop and enhance forthcoming green infrastructure efforts.
Green infrastructure is essential for establishing robust and environmentally sustainable urban settings in Nepal. By incorporating green spaces into urban areas, we may successfully reduce negative environmental consequences, increase the diversity of plant and animal life, improve the cleanliness of air and water, and promote social harmony and general pleasure. Successful green infrastructure development relies on comprehensive planning, active community engagement, policy backing, and innovative finance.
As Nepal’s cities face the complex challenges of the twenty-first century, implementing green infrastructure provides an integrated approach for urban development. Metropolitan areas can be converted into resilient, sustainable, and habitable locations for current and future generations by prioritizing ecological, social, and economic considerations. Nepal can improve its sustainability and resilience by adopting and implementing green infrastructure plans that incorporate lessons learned from Copenhagen and London.
Diksha Dahal is a research scholar at Kathmandu Engineering College (KEC), Kalimati. She has been engaged in various research concerning to sustainable construction, infrastructure resilience. Dahal can be reached at [email protected]. Sushma Arayal is an earthquake engineer and researcher by profession and is associated with ACME Engineering College in the capacity of Assistant Professor and Vising Faculty at KEC, Kalimati. Arayal can be reached at [email protected].
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