Green and Blue Infrastructure Strategies for Liveable Cities

As urban areas continue to expand rapidly, outward and upward, there is an urgent need for sustainable and resilient practices to manage this growth before it turns septic to the environment around us. All major cities of the world unanimously face growing challenges posed by climate change and rapid urbanization that require nature-based solutions. The concept of green and blue infrastructure (GBI) has come forth as an answer for addressing these challenges we face as a civilization. This thesis explores the potential of integrating green and blue infrastructure strategies and initiatives as a pivotal approach for enhancing liveability. This thesis uses literature to establish the theoretical basis for the concept of green and blue infrastructure and liveability. The study highlights findings from various scholarly articles to elucidate the multifaceted benefits of GBI, exploring the social, ecological, and economic benefits in the realm of enhancing liveability. Furthermore, the thesis delves into the existing GBI planning initiatives adopted around the world and opts for a comparative analysis to identify optimal strategies. Through an interdisciplinary approach that integrates principles from urban planning, judicious community involvement, and environmental management, the study endeavours to provide insights into best-functioning strategies, keeping in mind the complexity of the integration of GBI systems that require a context-based understanding to devise a solution. Despite widespread support from both planning practitioners and academics, there is a dearth of scholarly literature that critically analyses what GBI entails or the potential ramifications of its institutionalisation within planning. This thesis aims to fill this gap by investigating the integration of GBI with adopted planning initiatives. The research aspires to offer valuable contributions towards identifying optimal strategies of GBI by highlighting the liveability benefits aimed at fostering a ‘physiological-ecological’ enhancement at the local level.