Dialogue 1. Implementing Green Futures – Increasing urban green space and implementing nature-based solutions

View of the bend in a canal with red brick houses just the other side of the towpath and then two tower blocks in the distance which are reflected in the water
Image credit: Felibrilu on Flickr | CC BY-NC 2.0
  • Date held: Friday 13 November

Facilitators

  • Professor Neil Metcalfe, Institute of Biodiversity Animal Health & Comparative Medicine, University of Glasgow.
  • Gillian Dick, Spatial Planning Manager, Development & Regeneration Services, Glasgow City Council.

Themes

A. Promoting biodiversity

Promoting biodiversity through strategic use of natural assets.

Topic focus

  • Biodiversity, Geodiversity, Ecology
  • Natural assets quantity, quality and fit for function. 

Questions

  • How can we promote biodiversity and natural assets as a means to achieving carbon neutrality?

B. Learning from green COVID-19 measures

Learning from green COVID-19 measures and extending good practice; transformation plans for active and safe travel that also encourage use and greening of open space

Topic focus

  • Temporary interventions
  • Stalled spaces
  • Community engagement / empowerment
  • Health impacts of using space;
  • Active travel
  • Greening the grey 

Questions

  • How do we capture the impacts of the temporary interventions and learn from them?
  • How do we make interventions permanent? 

C: Spaces and places

The place-based approach with a nature-based solutions lens. Stories about Glasgow’s spaces centring on history of the Clyde; development of walkways and zoning of waterway land, etc.; geolocational devices / mapping processes. 

Topic focus

  • Open Space Strategies (use of green / blue / grey spaces)
  • Place-based approach
  • Nature-based solutions
  • Storytelling
  • Heritage
  • Public realm
  • Creative use of spaces
  • Vacant and derelict land

Questions

  • How do we understand the social, health and wellbeing, economic and environmental benefits that spaces and places can bring to the journey towards carbon neutrality? 

Resources

Professor Sebastien Chastin, School of Health and Life Sciences, Glasgow Caledonian University

GRD1TranscriptSebastienChastinDownload

Greening the Grey, Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh

GRD1TranscriptGreeningTheGrayDownload

William Yeomans, Clyde River Foundation

GRD1TranscriptWillieYeomansDownload

Additional contributors:

  • Tierney Lovell, Inclusive Design Manager, Sustrans
  • Deryck Irving, Head of Strategic Development at the Green Action Trust
  • Katherine Lakeman, Principal Policy Officer, Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA)
  • Ian MacKenzie, Green Health Programme Manager, Edinburgh and Lothian Health Foundation

More information / contact details

If you have any queries, please contact the event organisers at sustainable-solutions@glasgow.ac.uk

Logo of the Centre for Sustainable Solutions with the University of Glasgow name and crest; the logo of Glasgow City Council with the city's coat of arms; and the logo of Policy Scotland with the University of Glasgow name and crest;