Multifunctionality in Urban Green Infrastructure: An integrated assessment and exploring the interactions between children and nature

Abstract

Urban green infrastructure is critical for providing a wide range of ecosystem goods and services that benefit the urban population. Its role is instrumental in helping cities to tackle climate change mitigation and adaptation and more recently, its role in halting biodiversity loss has been highlighted. Urban green infrastructure supports biodiversity, reduces carbon emissions, improves stormwater management, and controls heat waves. However, numerous infrastructures must be consistently planned and constructed to accommodate the evolving climatic and environmental conditions and rapid urban population growth. In recent years, initiatives have emerged aiming to integrate green infrastructure as part of broader endeavors to render cities more sustainable and conducive to quality living. Norway's urban areas face challenges in implementing green infrastructure delivering diverse, high-quality functions. Multifunctionality is a key aspect of green infrastructure, yet Limited assessment methods complicate planners’ efforts to integrate green infrastructure’s benefits fully, constrained further by political and economic barriers. This raises essential questions on how to evaluate multifunctionality, select relevant functions, and determine appropriate spatial scales. Importantly, green infrastructure connects urban populations to nature, with children as key users who benefit greatly from green infrastructure's diverse offerings. In Norway, where children spend substantial time in green spaces, understanding green infrastructure’s multifunctional role for children is crucial to effective planning. The thesis employs both quantitative and qualitative methods, and the analyses are based on spatial data obtained from European and Norwegian databases and data obtained from fieldwork, surveys, and interviews. Findings show that multifunctionality in green infrastructure is positively influenced by features like universal design, water, sports, and religious facilities, alongside factors reflecting user preferences, such as educational use and nature engagement. Additionally, the green infrastructure types play a central role in the multifunctionality. Key elements like size, path networks, and play features significantly affect children's and teachers' preferences, with teachers particularly valuing green spaces for hands-on, sensory learning that supports children's physical, cognitive, and social development, as well as environmental education. Results are expected to help policymakers and stakeholders develop strategies and actions for the planning and assessment of green infrastructure multifunctionality and provide green spaces for children. Ultimately, the expected outcome of better planning is the creation of inclusive and accessible green spaces that cater to adults’s and children's needs. This will not only enhance their physical and mental well-being but also foster environmental management and community engagement from an early age through educational experiences.