Year: 2017
Type: dissertation
Abstract: As cities grapple with impacts of urban heat and heatwaves, exacerbated by climate change, integrating green spaces contributes to cooling cities, as well as providing many other benefits.These benefits include biophysical functions such as mitigating urban heat, stormwater management, biodiversity habitat, and contributing to human health and wellbeing and social and cultural processes.However, space for greenery is threatened as cities grow in size, density and population.This research analysed how policies can contribute to retaining and maximising urban green space.The research focused on green space policies in Melbourne Australia.A policy analysis framework was developed that integrated elements of policy research, with concepts from theories of sustainability transitions.The analysis framework directed attention to the strategic, tactical, operational and reflexive aspects of policy processes and content.Data was drawn from policies for Melbourne's green spaces from federal, state and local governments, and interviews with policy makers and elected officials.A study of London's green space policies supplemented the analysis.The research identified key policy mechanisms and policy success factors, and related these to sustainability transitions perspectives.It argued that a range of policy mechanisms are necessary because different types of mechanisms operate at different points along the transition trajectory.Key policy success factors associated with strategic, tactical, operational and reflexive dimensions were identified.These included green space policy champions, community engagement, integration with other influential policies and technical skills and resources for implementation.The research found that while green space provides multiple benefits and functions in cities, and this multifunctionality is promoted by policy makers and advocates, multifunctionality itself creates substantial challenges in governing, managing and communicating urban green space, in the context of monofunctional policy systems.The research highlights the role of overarching, shared narratives in transition from monofunctional infrastructure to multifunctional systems in nature-based cities.
Author: Judith Bush
Language: English
Topic: Urban Heat Island Mitigation
Subfield: Environmental Engineering
Field: Environmental Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: green
Funder: Australian Government
OpenAlex ID: W2778833287