Blue-green infrastructure (BGI) combines “blue” water elements — rivers, ponds, wetlands, retention basins — with “green” vegetated elements — parks, green roofs, street trees, rain gardens — to manage water and climate risk in cities using natural processes instead of relying solely on traditional grey infrastructure like pipes and culverts.
Why it matters for climate adaptation
As heavier rainfall events and longer heatwaves become more frequent, municipalities need infrastructure that does more than one job. Blue-green infrastructure absorbs and slows stormwater, reduces flood risk, cools urban areas during heat events, and supports biodiversity — all while improving the everyday quality of public spaces. It’s a core part of the nature-based approach InfoTool promotes for building climate resilience.
Key components
- Blue elements: rivers, ponds, wetlands, retention basins, permeable pavements, and rain gardens that capture, store, and slowly release water
- Green elements: parks, urban forests, green roofs, and street trees that provide shade, absorb rainfall, and cool the surrounding air
What this looks like in practice
Within the Co-Site project, we work with municipalities and regional stakeholders to identify where blue-green measures can have the greatest impact — combining spatial data catalogs, sensor measurements, and expert knowledge to prioritize investment where it’s needed most. A detailed portfolio of blue-green infrastructure case studies and interactive maps is available through our project partners.
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