The Value of Green Infrastructure for Urban Climate Adaptation
THE VALUE OF GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE FOR URBAN CLIMATE ADAPTATION The Center for Clean Air Policy February 2011 Josh Foster Ashley Lowe Steve Winkelman About CCAP Since 1985, CCAP has been a recognized world leader in climate and air quality policy and is the only independent, non-profit think-tank working exclusively on those issues at the local, national and international levels. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., CCAP helps policymakers around the world to develop, promote and implement innovative, market-based solutions to major climate, air quality and energy problems that balance both environmental and economic interests. For more information about CCAP, please visit www.ccap.org. Acknowledgements CCAP applauds the vision, leadership, and effort of our ten partners in the Urban Leaders Adaptation Initiative: Chicago, King County, Los Angeles, Miami-Dade County, Milwaukee, Nassau County, New York City, Phoenix, San Francisco, and Toronto. Over the last few years we have been impressed with the partners’ commitment to climate adaptation, progress in adaptation planning, and their development and implementation of best practices for managing emerging and future climate change impacts. This report was made possible by support from the Rockefeller Foundation and the Surdna Foundation. This report is dedicated to John H. Foster, a pioneer in the economic valuation of wetlands in Massachusetts in the early 1970s justifying state and later national wetlands protection laws. Because he asked then about the value of wetlands, we are able to ask now about how green infrastructure, climate adaptation, and community resilience are connected. TABLE OF CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY.......................................................................................................................... II WHAT IS GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE? ..............................................................................................
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