International Infrastructure: Explore Green Infrastructure Across the Globe

Imagine a world where flooding is no longer a problem, or where scorching hot days are just a distant memory. Picture rivers, ponds, and lakes that are crystal clear and healthy. With Green Infrastructure, this world is within our reach! Green infrastructure’s designs and applications offer breathtaking, sustainable solutions to many of the challenges we face today.

What is Green Infrastructure, Anyway?

Green Infrastructure (GI) is a low-impact development approach that focuses on protecting and enhancing our water sources. It’s all about using natural, eco-friendly solutions to prevent stormwater and pollution from harming our local ecosystems. Essentially, GI is the ultimate problem-solver for managing water in a way that benefits both the environment and the community.

In Washington DC, the Green Infrastructure team is hard at work combating stormwater runoff that affects the Chesapeake Bay. They’re implementing strategies like rain gardens, rain barrels, water monitoring, and permeable pavers to protect the Bay and ensure cleaner, healthier water for everyone. These simple yet effective solutions help reduce pollution, absorb excess rainwater, and keep our watersheds intact.

While DC is showcasing its own resilience in protecting the Chesapeake Bay, other parts of the world are putting their own spin on GI to address local water issues. Each region has adapted its techniques to fit their unique challenges.

Let’s dive in and explore some of these innovative techniques from around the world!

Washington, DC

Washington DC has been on a mission to become the cleanest and healthiest city in America, and they’re doing it with style! Thanks to the ongoing efforts of the Sustainable DC 2.0 plan, the city is not just aiming for a greener future – it’s actively shaping one. This long-term initiative covers 13 key areas, all aimed at creating meaningful, lasting change for both the environment and the people who live here. Federal agencies, local groups, and nonprofits are all pulling together to make it happen.

Water, in particular, has been a hot topic in DC for years. The city sits within the Chesapeake Bay Watershed, with major water sources like the Potomac and Anacostia Rivers running right through it. The good news? DC has made impressive progress in cleaning up these vital bodies of water. The city has been adding rain gardens in neighborhoods all across town. These green beauties not only look gorgeous, but they also reduce polluted runoff by using native plants to absorb stormwater.

This rain garden installed by the Alliance will help this DC resident reduce stormwater on their own property from entering the local waterways.

But it doesn’t stop there – DC’s flooding issues are also being tackled head-on. Some wards are more prone to flooding than others, but solutions like permeable pavers are helping. These clever paving stones are designed to let water seep through to the ground below, absorbing rainwater and preventing it from flooding streets.

An Alliance permeable paver in a DC resident’s back yard.

One of the coolest things about DC’s water conservation efforts is how the community has stepped up. The Potomac and Anacostia Rivers have historically struggled with pollution and high bacteria levels, but thanks to local water monitoring programs we can track real progress. Every year, Hundreds of water samples are collected, helping us understand exactly what needs to be done to keep our rivers clean and safe.

Caption: Water monitoring volunteer, collecting samples at Wharf Waterfront in Washington, DC. Photo credit: Anacostia Riverkeeper

So, next time you see a rain garden or a permeable paver in your neighborhood, know that they’re part of a bigger plan to make DC a cleaner, healthier place for everyone.

São Paulo, Brazil

In recent years, Brazil has been showing impressive resilience in its efforts to combat flooding, especially in areas prone to extreme weather events. Known for its incredibly diverse ecosystems, lush rainforests, and a culture deeply connected to nature, Brazil is actively working to safeguard this tropical biodiversity. However, one ongoing challenge Brazil faces is flooding in São Paulo, where intense storms can damage homes, create unsafe living conditions, and pollute drinking water.

One key solution is focusing on forestry conservation and reforestation projects. By protecting and restoring forests, the country is essentially building a natural barrier to mitigate the impact of storms. São Paulo, Brazil’s largest city, has taken big strides in expanding green spaces within the urban environment. The city’s mayor is spearheading a project aimed at transforming large private areas into public green spaces, all while protecting surrounding forests.

A bird’s eye view of São Paulo forest efforts. Photo credit: Caio Arbulu. Unsplash

The project isn’t just about pretty parks – it’s about protecting both the environment and urban residents. As Brazil faces more extreme weather, flooding has become an ever-growing concern. The hope is that by increasing green spaces, the city can reduce flooding by enhancing permeability.

This green revolution in São Paulo is expected to create more than 10,000 jobs, boosting the local economy. Plus, the city is planning for future climate-related emergencies, including training park maintenance teams to double as firefighters in case of wildfires – a growing risk due to increasing temperatures. All these green spaces also help combat the urban heat island effect by cooling the area down.

Interested in the alliance work in forestry? Visit our Forests page to discover how you can contribute. Together, we can ensure our waterways remain clean and healthy

Copenhagen, Denmark

When you think of Copenhagen, Denmark, you might picture delicious Danish pastries, a vibrant bicycle culture, and one of the happiest populations in the world. But there’s so much more to this city than its charming streets and sunny outlook. Copenhagen is a shining example of how a forward-thinking, nature-focused approach to development can positively impact the well-being of a city’s residents.

For over 25 years, Denmark has been leading the way in water monitoring, and Copenhagen has played a key role in that effort. The country has carefully monitored the condition of all 10 of its public bathing zones, ensuring that residents and visitors alike can enjoy clean, safe water. In fact, Copenhagen’s waters were officially declared clean in 1999, and the city hasn’t looked back since.

Copenhagen’s waterways and bikeability are iconic to the city’s culture. Photo credit: Poppy Waddington, Unsplash

Copenhagen’s commitment to maintaining clean water is a community-wide effort. The city actively involves its residents in trash cleanups, promotes electric public transportation, encourages bicycle commuting, and has even installed convenient recycling and trash machines in local markets to make waste management easier. It’s a perfect example of how small, sustainable actions can add up to big changes.

Singapore

Singapore is filled with amazing food, impressive skylines and their innovative infrastructure. In recent years, Singapore has been paving the path to turning their country green. They’ve incorporated lots of greenery into their infrastructure by installing many practices on their skyscrapers to combat issues like population growth, lack of green spaces and efficient use of land.

An impressive example of Singapore’s greening of their buildings. Photo credit: Sua Truong, Unsplash

Singapore has used open land such as roadsides, courtyards, green roofs, and more to revegetate them. The residents now have access to cleaner air, more regulated temperature, and improved stormwater management. Singapore’s amazing infrastructure provides a breathtaking aesthetic throughout the country and is a popular tourist location with structures like gardens by the bay, Jewel Changi Airport, and Khoo Teck Puat Hospital. All structures are carefully designed to create biophilia for Singapore residents and tourists alike.

Check out some of the work the Alliance has done on the Pennsylvania Lawn Conversion Project.

Green Infrastructure (GI) is making a global impact by offering sustainable, nature-based solutions to a variety of environmental challenges. From Washington DC’s efforts to clean up the Chesapeake Bay with rain gardens and permeable pavers to São Paulo’s commitment to increasing green spaces to combat flooding and urban heat, cities worldwide are embracing GI. Copenhagen’s focus on water quality monitoring and community involvement ensures cleaner, safer waters, while Singapore’s innovative use of green rooftops, roadside gardens, and courtyards tackle issues like air quality, stormwater management, and temperature regulation in its dense urban environment.

These efforts not only address local challenges but also reflect a shared global vision for a more sustainable and resilient future. Across all regions, green infrastructure is proving that eco-friendly design can have a profound impact on the health of our planet and communities.

Ready to be part of the solution? Explore our Green Infrastructure page to learn how you can participate and support the growth of our water quality database. By working together, we can keep our waterways clean and thriving!