Green Infrastructure - a wealth for cities

The need for maintaining and restoring nature within and near urban areas is stronger than ever before. Nature provides ecosystem services, which are crucial for our well-being, have the potential to improve the quality of life of urban citizens, and offer cost-effective solutions to global challenges. Green Infrastructure, within and around cities, plays a vital role in protecting biodiversity and enhancing nature’s ability to provide important ecosystem services. This URBES factsheet outlines the key components of Green Infrastructure and explores the linkages between the EU Green Infrastructure Strategy and the urban context. Using examples from Barcelona, it presents how cities can use Green Infrastructure to tackle environmental, social and economic challenges, while also becoming more resilient to climate change, improving quality of life, saving money, and strengthening the local economy.