Managing flood risk in Blue-Green Cities

O’Donnell, Emily; Dolman, Nanco; Everett, Glyn; Kapetas, Leon; Ncube, Sikhululekile; Thorne, Colin

Abstract

Blue-Green Cities manage flood risk by recreating more naturally oriented water cycles in urban areas through the restoration of natural drainage channels, reduction in impervious surfaces and implementation of Blue-Green Infrastructure (BGI - for example, swales, wetlands, green roofs) to enhance infiltration, attenuation and surface storage of water. Blue-Green Cities work synergistically to mimic predevelopment hydrology while generating multiple co-benefits to the environment, society and economy. The chapter expands on the Blue-Green City concept, providing an overview of existing research in this field. International examples show how the barriers hindering progression towards Blue-Green Cities are being overcome. Emerging research into adaptation pathways, natural capital accounting and social practice approaches for understanding community preferences demonstrate how research into Blue-Green Cities is moving beyond hydrodynamic modelling to consider decision-making under future uncertainty, the inclusion of environment and social benefits in business cases and the pivotal role of community preferences in designing blue-green systems.

Citation

O’Donnell, E., Dolman, N., Everett, G., Kapetas, L., Ncube, S., & Thorne, C. (2024). Managing flood risk in Blue-Green Cities. In J. Lamond, D. Proverbs, & N. Bhattacharya Mis (Eds.), Research Handbook on Flood Risk Management (97-111). Edward Elgar Publishing. https://doi.org/10.4337/9781839102981.00015

• Publication Date: Apr 16, 2024
• Deposit Date: Apr 22, 2024
• Publicly Available Date: Oct 17, 2024
• Publisher: Edward Elgar Publishing
• Pages: 97-111
• Series Title: Elgar Handbooks in Energy, the Environment and Climate Change
• Book Title: Research Handbook on Flood Risk Management
• Chapter Number: 8
• ISBN: 9781839102981; 9781839102974
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4337/9781839102981.00015
• Keywords: Blue-Green City; Flood risk management; Natural capital; Adaptation pathways; Community preferences; Blue-Green Infrastructure
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/33839105
• Publisher URL: https://www.elgaronline.com/edcollchap/book/9781839102981/book-part-9781839102981-15.xml
• Additional Information: This is a draft chapter. The final version is available in Research Handbook on Flood Risk Management edited by Jessica Lamond , David Proverbs and Namrata Bhattacharya Mis, published in 2024, Edward Elgar Publishing Ltd; http://dx.doi.org/10.4337/9781839102981.00015; ; The material cannot be used for any other purpose without further permission of the publisher, and is for private use only.