Why aren't we implementing Green Cities?

I came across an interesting article called "If Planners Understand It's Cool to Green Cities, What's Stopping Them?" by Story by Tony Matthews, a lecturer in Urban  & Environmental Planning, Griffith University; and Jason Byrne, Associate Professor – Environmental Planning, Griffith University on The Urban Developer Website.

The article caught my attention immediately, when it addressed the issue of why we are not implementing the 'green' strategies as much as planned. It was always one of the question I had in the back of my mind. I agree that Australia's is broadly aware of green infrastructure as an urban intervention and we commonly see it in the "sustainable" section of the LEP. The authors highlighted that "the planners we interviewed, while recognising the potential value of green infrastructure, strongly caution that delivering the technology can be an uncertain process." I guess "uncertain process" is strongly driven by economic factors - as a landscape construction estimator, I'm aware that the cost into implementing green infrastructure can be far more costly. In addition, the author simplify by saying "put simply, they tend to avoid it because it has not traditionally featured on planning agendas. Like any new planning endeavour, green infrastructure can create institutional, legal, economic, social and environmental challenges." 

It is said that one of the challenges faced are the biophysical; including the appropriate forms of vegetation that is influenced by prevailing climatic condition, soil conditions, drainage capacity and species growth patterns. 

Social-political factors were also highlighted as barriers. These include governance concerns such as the planning decisions. 

Management is also an issue - government commitments to budget for green infrastructure delivery and management is limited and varies across different local government.

So what can be done?

This is not a simple task. 

According to the article, the research suggest the principal task for planners is to overcome embedded practices and to accept GI as an emerging but permanent urban feature. To develop further understanding of urban GI and to implement it so that it can provide various benefits to the community. Some of these benefits include reducing urban heat, provide habitat, better resource management including stormwater runoff and improved urban quality and aesthetics. 


Reference
http://www.theurbandeveloper.com/green-cities-urban-greening/