Building resilient cities through urban greenspaces  

8 August, 2024

Efforts are underway to demonstrate and model how urban green spaces can mitigate the impacts of extreme weather events. 

The ‘managing resilient urban green spaces in Australian cities’ project, delivered through Hort Innovation and led by Western Sydney University, will develop practical guides for stakeholders. 

As extreme weather events are causing Australian cities to face complex sustainability challenges, urban greenspaces are essential in alleviating climate change impacts. 

This program seeks to prepare growers to meet the evolving needs of urban environments while enhancing market engagement. 

Through the program, practical guides will be developed for urban planners, emergency management organisations, and local and state government, to assist in: 

• planning  

• designing  

• management.  

The key benefits to these stakeholders are: 

• guidance on nursery and turf products, highlighting their social, environmental and sustainability credentials  

• promoting green spaces for flood mitigation, microclimate regulation and overall resilience to mitigate climate challenges. 

By equipping stakeholders with these practical tools and knowledge, the program aims to foster the creation of resilient, sustainable urban environments that can better withstand and adapt to challenges posed by extreme weather events.  

For more information on how urban greening can better protect our cities, read the full media release from Hort Innovation.