by Fiona Ferbrache
Examples of green infrastructure from an exhibition entitled ‘La Ville Fertile’ (Gaillac, 2012)
What happened to your Christmas tree at the end of December? Did you recycle wrapping paper and Christmas cards? Perhaps you experienced some flooding from the severe weather during the festive season? This post explores environmental and climate change adaptation strategies – namely green infrastructure – but first a light-hearted piece of research with a festive theme.
In December, academics from Leeds University calculated Santa’s carbon footprint if he successfully delivered stockings to 7.7 million UK homes. Travelling roughly 1.5 million km, Santa’s carbon footprint would be equivalent to 9 tonnes per stocking (UK annual CO2 emissions are roughly 7 tonnes per person). Exploring less costly ways of delivering Christmas gifts, the scientists calculated that stockings arriving from China by container ship, and then to one’s home by van, would result in lower CO2 emissions at 800 grams per stocking.
We are asked to take environmental and climate change seriously, not least because without adequate adaptation, lives and landscapes may be put at risk. This point is made by Jones and Somper in an Early View article exploring how climate change adaptations in London are being integrated into the landscape. Their focus is on green infrastructure: “natural or semi-natural networks of green (soil-covered or vegetated) and blue (water-covered) spaces and corridors that maintain and enhance ecosystem services” (p.1), and how such spaces can be encouraged and used more effectively (e.g. the Green Roofs Scheme). Jones and Somper present some examples of existing measures towards green infrastructure in the capital, and also make three key recommendations for policymakers, highlighting, among them, the need for stronger planning initiatives to turn ideals into standard practice.
Next time you visit London, you might observe what measures have been taken towards furthering green infrastructure, and consider whether such strategies might be successful in your own hometown.
Greening Roofs and Walls in London, Greater London Authority
Jones, S. & Somper, C. 2013 The role of green infrastructure in climate change adaptation in London. The Geographical Journal. DOI: 10.1111/geoj.12059
Santa’s Emissions, United Bank of Carbon
“Are We Whistling in the Wind?”, Turner, B. 2012 Geography Directions 19 October
Filed under: Early View, The Geographical Journal Tagged: climate change adaptation, Climatology, Environment and Society, Global Issues, Green Infrastructure, landscape, Santa Claus CO2 emissions
