Investigating Urban Green Corridors in Reducing Urban Climate Change Impacts: A Proposal for Belgrade

One of the most detrimental consequences of rapid urbanization is the increasing negative effects of climate change in urban areas, which continue to present challenges to sustainability and quality of life in cities globally. Constant expansion of urban areas further damages green areas in and around cities by fragmenting them, which leads to the enhancement of negative climate change effects, such as urban heat island, floods, temperature oscillations, and many more. In searching for a comprehensive solution to these urban climate challenges, an already existing concept of green corridors resurfaced. Defined as linear elements of landscape ecology, whose form is pronouncedly elongated, containing different sorts of vegetation (Forman & Gordon, 1986), green corridors and their narrow shape make them easily implementable green spaces in cities. They are mostly seen through the function of biodiversity connection and preventing environmental degradation, causing the neglect of their various other benefits. As a result, the role of green corridors in mitigating climate change effects remains mainly underexplored. Additionally, a comprehensive classification of diverse linear forms of greenery is lacking in existing studies. In response to these findings, this thesis will compile and present various functions of green corridors, with an emphasis on climate functions, in a comprehensive theoretical framework. By conducting an extensive study on different types of linear greenery, they will be examined and further classified based on the functions they perform in different settings. The main priority of this thesis is investigating the potential of green corridors in mitigating the climate change effects in urban areas. Subsequently, by studying the best practices of existing urban green corridors, a proposal for a multifunctional urban green corridor will be presented for Belgrade with its distinct function in mitigating the negative effects of climate change, becoming a part of the green connective tissue of the city.