Green Infrastructure and Urban Sustainability: A Case Study Analysis of Latin American Cities

Stormwater run-off control is emerging as one of the key sustainability challenges for the cities around the world, especially the coastal and flood-prone cities. Sustainable management of stormwater run-off is important because urban infrastructures (e.g., buildings, roads, and parking) effectively seal the land surface and disrupt the natural hydrological cycle, often disproportionately burdening the poor and disfranchised communities inhabiting the flood zones. The devastating results of flooding have pushed urban designers to actively consider "green infrastructure" as a more effective option to mitigate flooding risks and to enhance urban resilience. Green infrastructure connects nature-based solutions to effectively manage stormwater run-offs and provides several social, economic, and environmental benefits. Focusing on the use and governance of green infrastructure, this study addresses two key research questions: What are the ways green infrastructure helps urban stormwater management and overall urban sustainability in the developing countries? What are the challenges Lantin American cities face in comparison to the cities in the developed countries? This study applies a case study analysis approach to compare three Latin American cities: 1) Bogota (Columbia), Curitiba (Brazil), and Santiago (Chile), as those are representative of rapid urbanization trends occurring in the developing countries, and they have already green infrastructure in their urban design. The results of this study suggest that green infrastructure has significant benefits for the cities in developing countries, but it is also important to focus on the governance aspects that allow for a city to properly implement green infrastructure and create more adaptive and resilient cities.