Urban Governance of and for Urban Green and Blue Infrastructure

Abstract

To capture the many complexities, we adopt a broad approach to urban governance, encompassing the diverse combinations of formal, informal and/or customary/traditional institutions and practices in urban areas of the Global South. The broad arguments are illustrated with appropriate examples and boxed case studies to illustrate important dimensions of diversity but also the scope for generalisation. In many contexts, inclusion of urban ecology, biodiversity, and green–blue infrastructure within urban governance is quite novel, thus presenting challenges to often rigid and outdated systems in times of unprecedented change. Hence, the chapter addresses key aspects needing change, including guidelines and examples of how this has been and can be achieved. A comprehensive and holistic approach is vital to provide a logical context for prioritisation and integration. This will facilitate joined-up action to achieve multiple co-benefits through targeted interventions rather than a scatter gun approach. Novel approaches that prioritise transdisciplinary co-design or co-production over conventional adversarial and top-down expert-led mechanisms have considerable potential in this regard. These are examined across relevant spatial scales, from key global agreements and conventions, to national initiatives, local authorities and the potential of transnational municipal networks.