19. Challenges to Governing Urban Green Infrastructure in Europe – The Case of the European Green Capital Award

Excerpt

As highlighted in previous chapters, urban areas are home to the majority of people in Europe. According to the European Environment Agency, about three quarters of the population now lives in cities and towns – and by the year 2020, this proportion is expected to reach 80% (EEA 2006). One of the consequences of rapid urbanization is a diminishing area of green spaces such as parks, forests and gardens, as well as blue spaces like lakes, rivers and wetlands (Nuissl et al. 2009; Kabisch et al. 2015). This decrease in green infrastructure (GI) can severely impact local ecosystems, reducing their capacity to provide essential services ranging from the management of storm water to the moderation of thermal stress (Larondelle et al. 2014; Alavipanah et al. 2015; Kabisch 2015). Urban populations may in turn face a deteriorated quality of life, as they increasingly depend on urban GI for social and environmental benefits (James et al. 2009; Roy et al. 2012; Konijnendijk et al. 2013). Climate change and extreme weather events accentuate these challenges, and threaten the economic vitality of European urban areas (European Commision 2013a, b, c). …