Policy Solution

Parks and open space

Commitment

Overview:

Summary: Converting vacant, non-vegetated land into parks and open spaces is a heat mitigation strategy that cools the surrounding temperature and also provides social co-benefits.

Implementation: Develop and adopt parks plans and capital plans to fund park networks.

Considerations for Use: Parks can be capitally-intensive to design and construct; but offer many opportunities for funding through increased property values and financing solutions. Parks require ongoing maintenance.

  • Policy Levers: The mechanism municipalities can use to actualize the intervention. These policy levers will likely be used in combination with each other.

    CommitmentGovernments set ambitious goals or targets to guide prioritization and investment.
  • Trigger Points: Opportunities for municipalities to implement risk reduction and preparedness interventions based on the policy lever, building on the United Nations Environment Programme triggers used in the Beating the Heat handbook (2021).

    City planning processesIncludes city initiatives such as the development of climate action plan, pathway to zero-energy, master plan, transit plan, energy mapping etc.
    Evaluating or initiating major city infrastructure projectsIncludes projects such as city transit, street or utilities construction / re-construction etc.
  • Intervention Type:
    Green/natural Infrastructure
  • Sectors:
    Informal Settlements, Parks

    Impact:

  • Target Beneficiaries:
    Heat-vulnerable communities, Property owners, Residents
  • Phase of Impact:
    Risk reduction and mitigation
  • Metrics:
    Area of green space or parks

Implementation:

  • Intervention Scale:
    City, District
  • Authority and Governance:
    City government
  • Implementation Timeline:
    Long-term (10+ Years)
  • Implementation Stakeholders:
    City government
  • Funding Sources:
    Grants and philanthropy, private investment, Public investment
  • Capacity to Act:
    High

    Benefits:

  • Cost-Benefit:
    Medium
  • Public Good:
    High
  • GHG Reduction:
    Medium
  • Co-benefits (Climate/Environmental):
    Improve stormwater management, Preserve biodiversity, Provide flood protection, Reduce air and water pollution
  • Co-benefits (Social):
    Build social cohesion, Improve human health, Improve the public realm, Increase property values