Delivering multiple co-benefits in blue-green cities

Transformative change is needed in how flood risk and water security are managed in urban environments, in the UK and globally.

Increasingly, cities are rethinking their approaches to flood risk and water management, transitioning from flood defence to flood resilience by implementing water sensitive urban design such as Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) and blue-green infrastructure (swales, rain gardens, green roofs and wetlands) alongside the more traditional ‘grey’ infrastructure (flood walls, barriers, pipes and tanks).

Framed by the latest geographical research and practice, this event explores the multiple co-benefits of blue-green cities, and how these can overcome the biophysical, socio-political and societal barriers to innovation in urban flood and water management.

This event will be of professional interest to a wide range of policy makers, practitioners, researchers and professional stakeholders, including environmental consultants, planners, developers and engineers, especially those interested in making the case for a strategic transition that includes blue-green infrastructure.

The event will be chaired by Oliver Harmar (Yorkshire Area Director, Environment Agency).

Programme and confirmed speakers

Welcome and introduction to the event

• Chair's welcome – Oliver Harmar (Yorkshire Area Director, Environment Agency)

• Introduction to blue-green cities – Emily O’Donnell (Research Fellow, Urban Flood Resilience at University of Nottingham)

Overcoming barriers to/realising benefits of blue-green infrastructure

• Systems approach to nature based solutions – Dr Ana Mijic (Senior Lecturer in Water Systems Integration, Imperial College London, and a Co-Director of the Centre for Systems Engineering and Innovation (CSEI))

• Delivering blue-green infrastructure benefits needs good design – David Singleton (Director, DSA Environment + Design)

Panel discussion

• Mark Fletcher (Global Water Leader, Arup) will provide a short reflection and response to the preceding presentations

• Ana, David and Mark will then take part in a discussion led by the Chair, followed by questions from the audience

About the organisers

This forum has been convened in collaboration with Professor Colin Thorne and Dr Emily O'Donnell (University of Nottingham), drawing upon the Urban Flood Resilience and Blue Green Cities research projects.

The Royal Geographical Society (with IBG) is the UK's learned society and professional body for geography and geographers. It shares and promotes the benefits a geographical approach can bring, creating spaces for researchers, policy-makers and professionals to exchange ideas, evidence and expertise, and adding geographical insight to debates, issues and policies in often complex and sensitive areas of decision-making. 

For more information about this event, please contact policy@rgs.org