Cop26 Glasgow is here!
Green and Blue Infrastructure are one of the most critical solutions to ultimately slow down climate change and to keep global warming to 1.5 degrees. Each country will bring their updated plans (NDCs) on how they plan to reduce emissions and face climate change head-on. COP26 has to be the most historical moment that faces world leaders and their commitment to securing a safer future for the planet now, for us and future generations.
The signs of climate change are imminent with wilder weathers, temperatures rising and ice caps melting. However, there is still time to make a difference, if we act now. Minimising our waste is a great way to live more sustainably and help protect the planet. In the UK alone, over 5 million tonnes of plastic are used each year and only 1/4 of this is recycled.
GreenBlue Urban are the global leader in harnessing nature to protect communities from extreme climatic challenges and to improve the quality of life in the most challenging urban areas. Our passion is urban tree planting to enable biodiversity enabling health for all. Our solution is to provide products that enable long term tree growth the only product that uses 100% recycled and recyclable material, is manufactured at our UK Head Office, reducing its carbon footprint further.
The obstacle is us, the solution is nature
Our urban conurbations are predominately influenced by the built environment – our grey infrastructure. However, quality of life, health and personal fulfilment is closely related to the provision of green space, but the pressures of density on developments can make provision of adequate space for green components difficult to achieve.
Integrating the green (plants and trees) with the blue (watercourses, ponds, lakes and storm drainage) elements makes our urban spaces more resilient, pleasant and healthy places to live, work and play.
We destroy the equivalent of 30 football pitches of fertile soil every minute!
Green infrastructure is often described as interconnected networks of multifunctional green space which provides multiple benefits and can accommodate sustainable development. These elements include parks, open space, trees, both street and private, playing fields, woods, private gardens, allotments and green roofs and walls.
Blue infrastructure usually relates to urban water infrastructure, including ponds, lakes, streams rivers and stormwater provision. Sustainable drainage schemes are usually included under this heading but are sometimes also labelled as green infrastructure.
Combining Green and Blue elements together is an effective way of providing a sustainable natural solution to urban and climatic challenges. Vegetation assists with air pollution removal, stormwater management and the heat island effects as well as creating places that are more pleasant and less stressful to live in.
The total annual value of cooling from green and blue space in 2017 in Great Britain was valued at £243.6 million in labour productivity savings and avoided air conditioning energy costs.
Be involved and make a pledge – change the way you live with some simple steps download our handy 10 step infographic here!
Together, we have the opportunity to help restore nature, keep our soils healthy and protect the environment through green planting whether you have a plot of land on your property, a window sill with a plant box or donate to a tree-planting charity – we can all make a difference!
