Urban greening for low carbon cities—introduction to the special issue

Abstract

As a measure to counteract the effects of urban sprawl, with the continued growth of cities worldwide, different modes of urban greening are being increasingly recognized. This special issue addresses current developments in the transition to low carbon cities employing a variety of urban greening techniques. The special issue consists of 10 papers, including four review papers on the topics of biophilic architecture; environmental versus marketable aesthetics; urban agriculture; and the rationale for mainstreaming. It also contains several original research articles, some (about half of the special issue) presenting case studies, as for green redevelopment in Trenton, USA; facade greening in Genoa, Italy; climatic effects (on air temperature) in Rosario, Argentina; a modeling study for Melbourne, Australia; and another Australian case study on the greening and “un”greening of Adelaide. In addition to a broadly scoped paper that examines American stormwater management, the special issue also contains an editorial on technologies for wastewater treatment. Together, these papers constitute a contribution to recognize the importance of retaining greenery in cities chiefly, although not solely, as a countermeasure to urban sprawl and its environmental impacts. Urban greening here represents a cost-effective (soft) approach that is an effective tool as part of sustainable development.