Blue-Green Cities

Blue-Green Cities communicates that urban flood risk management based on Blue-Green approaches is able to deliver multiple and valuable co-benefits to urban communities.

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In Blue-Green Cities, Colin Thorne and the team of authors, demonstrate how urban flood risk management based on Blue-Green approaches and infrastructure can deliver both sustainable flood risk management and multiple co-benefits that are valued by urban communities. Cities world-wide are seeking novel solutions to problems with aging ‘grey’ drainage systems that are unable to cope with climate change-related increases in urban flooding. A Blue-Green City finds solutions by combining its management of urban green spaces with upgrading existing drainage systems to create integrated stormwater management systems. This challenges policy makers and planners to overcome barriers to innovation, engineers to model, design and implement Blue-Green systems fit for an uncertain future, social scientists to identify the preferences and values of the beneficiary communities, and environmental economists to reliably evaluate the co-benefits of Blue-Green solutions. We address these issues by synthesising the outcomes of the Blue-Green Cities Research Project (EPSRC award EP/K013661/1) to demonstrate how urban flood risk management that is both sustainable and resilient can be achieved using innovative approaches.


This book reveals how cities can enhance their flood risk management systems while simultaneously delivering




increased water security
improved air and water quality
reduced urban heat island effects
carbon sequestration
access to natural areas for recreation and conservation
enhanced social benefits and economic vitality.


This book is an essential read for flood risk management professionals, policy makers and stakeholders in urban areas. It particularly appeals to city and local authority councillors, municipal, drainage and urban water engineers and developers, architects and landscape architects.