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Cooling Cities with Green Space: Policy Perspectives

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Cooling Cities with Green Space: Policy Perspectives Cooling cities with green space: policy perspectives Judith Margaret Bush ORCID ID 0000-0002-7847-6610 Thesis submitted in total fulfilment of the requirements of the PhD December 2017 Department of Infrastructure Engineering, Melbourne School of Engineering and Faculty of Architecture, Building and Planning The University of Melbourne Abstract As cities grapple with impacts of urban heat and heatwaves, exacerbated by climate change, integrating green spaces contributes to cooling cities, as well as providing many other benefits. These benefits include biophysical functions such as mitigating urban heat, stormwater management, biodiversity habitat, and contributing to human health and wellbeing and social and cultural processes. However, space for greenery is threatened as cities grow in size, density and population. This research analysed how policies can contribute to retaining and maximising urban green space. The research focused on green space policies in Melbourne Australia. A policy analysis framework was developed that integrated elements of policy research, with concepts from theories of sustainability transitions. The analysis framework directed attention to the strategic, tactical, operational and reflexive aspects of policy processes and content. Data was drawn from policies for Melbourne’s green spaces from federal, state and local governments, and interviews with policy makers and elected officials. A study of London’s green space policies supplemented the analysis. The research identified key policy mechanisms and policy success factors, and related these to sustainability transitions perspectives. It argued that a range of policy mechanisms are necessary because different types of mechanisms operate at different points along the transition trajectory. Key policy success factors associated with strategic, tactical, operational and reflexive dimensions were identified. These included green space policy champions, community engagement, integration with other influential policies and technical skills and resources for implementation. The research found that while green space provides multiple benefits and functions in cities, and this multifunctionality is promoted by policy makers and advocates, multifunctionality itself creates substantial challenges in governing, managing and communicating urban green space, in the context of monofunctional policy systems. The research highlights the role of overarching, shared narratives in transition from monofunctional infrastructure to multifunctional systems in nature-based cities. page i Declaration This is to certify that: i. the thesis comprises only my original work towards the degree of the Doctor of Philosophy except where indicated, ii. due acknowledgement has been made in the text to all other material used, iii. the thesis is fewer than 100,000 words in length, exclusive of tables, maps, bibliographies and appendices. Signed _________J. Bush________________________________________________ Date___________21/12/2017__________ page ii List of publications arising from the research Bush J, Aye L and Hes D, 2015, Cooling cities with green space: a policy analysis framework, State of Australian Cities Conference December 2015, Gold Coast, Australia. Bush J, Aye L, Hes D and Murfitt P, 2017, How could sustainability transition theories support practice-based strategic planning? in Moore, de Haan, Horne and Gleeson (eds) Urban Sustainability Transitions: Australian Cases – International Perspectives. Springer, Japan. Bush J, and Hes D, 2018, Urban green space in the transition to the eco-city: policies, multi-functionality and narrative, in Hes, D and Bush, J (eds) Enabling Eco- Cities: defining, planning and creating a thriving future, Palgrave. Doyon A and Bush J, 2015, Transforming cities towards an ecological worldview: applying sustainability transition theories and resilience thinking to urban planning International Sustainable Development Research Society Conference July 2015 Geelong, Australia. Kendal, D, Farrar, A, Plant, L, Threlfall, CG, Bush, J & Baumann, J, 2017, Risks to Australia’s urban forest from climate change and urban heat. Report for the Clean Air and Urban Landscape hub of the National Environmental Science Programme, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne. Kendal, D, Lee, K, Ramalho, C, Bowen, K & Bush, J, 2016, Benefits of urban green space in the Australian context. A synthesis review for the Clean Air and Urban Landscapes hub of the National Environmental Science Program, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne. Pianella A, Bush J, Chen D, Williams NS and Aye L, 2016, Green roofs in Australia: review of thermal performance and associated policy development, Architectural Science Association 50th Anniversary Conference December 2016, Adelaide, Australia. page iii Acknowledgements I acknowledge and pay respect to the Traditional Custodians of Melbourne, the Wurndjerri people of the Kulin nation on whose lands this research was undertaken and whose custodianship and caring for Country teaches and inspires us all in stewardship for the biosphere. Profound thanks to my supervisors Dr Dominique Hes and A/Prof. Lu Aye and panel member A/Prof. Ole Fryd for their guidance and encouragement. Together they have provided invaluable and inspiring wisdom, clarity and an eye for detail throughout. I also wish to thank my PhD Advisory Committee Chair, Prof. Andrew Western for guidance and support and the Department of Infrastructure Engineering and the Faculty of Architecture, Building and Planning for administrative support and encouragement. Many thanks to the members of research groups and reading groups associated with Thrive Research Hub, ASTRA (Australian Sustainability Transitions Research Alliance), GIRG (Green Infrastructure Research Group) and CAUL Hub (Clean Air and Urban Landscapes). These groups have provided valuable and enjoyable opportunities to discuss new ideas, share research challenges and develop collaborations. Thank you to the interview participants and other policy practitioners who generously gave time to discuss with me their insights on policy making and urban green space provision. To Prof. Kate Auty and Dr Ethna O’Mara, who both inspired me to embark on this PhD, and provided ongoing encouragement throughout, thank you! And boundless gratitude to my family and to my partner Ellie Flutey for unreservedly and patiently supporting me throughout this research. This research was supported by an Australian Government Research Training Program Scholarship, (previously Australian Postgraduate Award), a Low Carbon Living Cooperative Research Centre scholarship and by a travel grant from the Michael Kaufman Scholarship Fund. page iv Contents Abstract ................................................................................................................................ i Declaration ............................................................................................................................... ii List of publications arising from the research ....................................................................... iii Acknowledgements .................................................................................................................. iv List of figures ............................................................................................................................. ix List of tables .............................................................................................................................. xi Chapter 1. Introduction......................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Context of the study ................................................................................................... 2 1.1.1 Urban heat, climate change and urban green space ...................................... 3 1.1.2 Urban heat in Australian cities ......................................................................... 4 1.1.3 Study location: Melbourne, Australia ............................................................. 5 1.2 Green space policy perspectives .............................................................................. 8 1.3 Research aim, objectives, questions and scope of the study .............................. 10 1.4 Significance of the study ......................................................................................... 12 1.5 Research motivation ................................................................................................. 13 1.6 Thesis structure ......................................................................................................... 14 Chapter 2. Urban heat and urban green space ................................................................ 17 2.1 Introduction .............................................................................................................. 17 2.2 Urban heat: causes, impacts and mitigation ......................................................... 17 2.2.1 Urban heat island effect ................................................................................... 17 2.2.2 Heatwaves ......................................................................................................... 19 2.2.3 Climate change ................................................................................................. 20 2.2.4 Impacts and mitigation of urban heat ........................................................... 21 2.3 Urban green space ...................................................................................................
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