The potential for Malta’s urban open spaces to act as green infrastructure : considerations for planning and governance

Abstract

Introduction: Urban concentrations of population, if not appropriately managed, result in a number of problems. Challenges engendered by the need to address trends such as: increasing mobility while decreasing dependence on private vehicles; reducing sprawl and land take up; improving micro-climates and the increasing need for effective water management in urban areas are all topics relating to the development and management of the urban environment. Such issues have a direct impact on the quality and sustainability of urban environments. Although numerous nations and cities have embraced the concept of sustainable urbanization, we have yet “to successfully design and plan cities that will accommodate our economic and demographic needs while uplifting and elevating us, and…the planet and its natural systems”. This paper discusses some of the research outcomes when exploring the potential for Malta’s urban open spaces to act as green infrastructure, as a means to addressing urban challenges and contribute to sustainable development. In particular, it presents some of the key planning and governance considerations in doing this.