When you think of infrastructure, do you picture bridges and roads? What if we told you the trees at the local park, the marsh down the street, and the garden on your condo roof were infrastructure? 

Infrastructure is made up of the underlying structures that makes our country and economy function— and nature is one of our most valuable assets. And in the face of climate change, the value of nature in cities is increasing. Trees can cool and clean the air, helping protect people from the worst effects of heat waves. Wetlands are like sponges that absorb excess water and store it temporarily, helping to limit flooding. Green roofs capture rainwater, lower building energy needs, and offer a sanctuary from heat. Natural infrastructure can do all this while also sequestering CO₂, supporting birds and wildlife, and providing green space for recreation and exercise.

There is big—and often underappreciated—value in Canada’s natural infrastructure, with benefits that extend beyond reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Indigenous peoples have practiced sustainable land management for thousands of years in a way that recognizes the interconnectedness of nature and well-being. Indigenous-led initiatives and partnerships can help better reflect the importance of nature in decision making. 

Green infrastructure is about tapping into the power of nature

Governments at all levels too often undervalue natural infrastructure relative to grey infrastructure (e.g., sewers, drains, dams, etc.). This results in a lack of investment to protect what we have and regain what we have lost. Natural infrastructure is, in many cases, more cost-effective than grey infrastructure and offers a broader range of societal benefits. And in sharp contrast to grey infrastructure, which loses value over time as it gets older, natural infrastructure can actually appreciate in value and extend the life of grey infrastructure.

Three case studies—co-developed by the Canadian Climate Institute and the Smart Prosperity Institute—provide important insights into the possibilities for urban natural infrastructure in Canada. A fourth case study looking at the experience of Wisahkotewinowak—an urban Indigenous garden collective based in the Waterloo-Wellington region of Southwestern Ontario—will be published in the coming weeks.  

Toronto’s green roofs generate returns

The first case study focuses on the Toronto Green Roof Program adopted in 2009, which included the first green roof bylaw adopted in North America and an Eco-Roof Incentive. The bylaw requires green roofs for new development or additions on large buildings, with some flexibility to reduce coverage by paying into the incentive fund. Money raised is used to support green roofs on existing and smaller buildings, as well as school boards and not-for-profits. The bylaw has resulted in around 850 green roofs, totaling 750,000 m² of green roof space, and the incentive has supported 336 projects. 

If all flat roofs across Toronto were greened, it could translate into savings of between $41.8 million and $118 million in avoided stormwater infrastructure costs. Individual developers will not consider these benefits, or the resulting cleaner air and water, cooler surrounding temperatures, and support for birds and pollinators. They may be interested in lower building energy costs, or increased building value, however.  The Sen̓áḵw residential development by the Squamish First Nation in Vancouver—which deliberately aims to celebrate nature—highlights the possibilities of reimagined building design.

Protecting Alberta’s wetlands is cost-effective flood management

The second study looks at the Calgary River Flood Mitigation Program and the Alberta wetland policy , and the role they play in protecting and restoring wetlands in the Bow River Watershed. The city of Calgary has lost around 90 per cent of its original wetland cover, resulting in increased downstream water volumes that exacerbate flood risk. Following the devastating 2013 floods, experts recommended incorporating better watershed management practices into flood mitigation plans. The Alberta wetland rapid evaluation tool provides a framework to account for the value of wetlands in decision making. It is also combined with grants for landowners to invest in wetland restoration.  Calgary’s recent Climate Resilience Strategy also includes natural infrastructure as one of five priority areas.

While the overall approach is a move in the right direction, more can be done to support wetland protection and restoration. A 2014 Ducks Unlimited study showed that a 2 per cent increase in wetlands in the settled areas of Alberta would be a comparable cost to a dry dam, while storing 50,000,000 m³ of water and providing additional carbon sequestration, water filtration, and habitat benefits. Preventing further wetland loss in east-central Alberta could yield a seven-fold return on investment.  First Nations communities  in Alberta, such as the Mikisew Cree, are playing a leading role in pushing governments to protect critical forest and wetland ecosystems.

Urban trees can help Montrealers adapt to heatwaves 

The third case study targets Montreal, which stands out for its commitment to trees. In its recent climate plan, the city promised to plant 500,000 trees by 2030. This is no small task given the challenge of finding space in a populated and relatively dense urban area. The 2018 heatwave revealed that low-income, elderly people living alone are most vulnerable to death and illness. Increasing tree cover in vulnerable neighbourhoods can help cool the air and provide a refuge from heatwaves that are expected to become more frequent and intense with climate change. 

Realizing these benefits requires more than tree planting, however. Trees also need to be kept alive through sufficient investment in maintenance and protection. Municipal accounting rules make this hard by not recognizing trees as capital investments. If public benefits were captured, trees could be valued at around three times the cost associated with planting and maintenance. In Winnipeg, the development of Canada’s largest urban Indigenous reserve—led by seven Treaty 1 First Nations—makes natural infrastructure and green space central to the new community.

Government policies that protect, maintain, and restore natural infrastructure have net benefits

Most business and homeowners do not consider broader societal benefits in their decisions. As a result, policy changes can drive real and significant public benefits. Policy can drive action in four main ways:

1. Shift mindsets: Sharing knowledge, analysis, and data on public benefits and building human capacity related to natural infrastructure can help overcome the urban engineering fixation with grey infrastructure. Supporting Indigenous-led nature initiatives and incorporating Indigenous ways of caring for the land in partnership can help.
2. Adjust decision-making processes: Decisions on land use and development too often miss critical information on the full value of existing natural infrastructure to current and future generations. Many laws and regulations that control land use decision-making were developed at a time when wetlands and trees were viewed as impediments to progress rather than valuable assets. 
3. Incentivize private action: In and around urban areas, a considerable proportion of land is privately owned. With the right financial incentives—carrots, sticks or some combination—private landowners can help protect and restore natural infrastructure. Well-designed carbon offset systems—or voluntary offsets that incorporate a broader range of benefits—can play a role, particularly as the carbon price increases. Local organizations can facilitate these transactions.
4. Target public investments:  While some infrastructure funds allow for nature-based projects, the structure of traditional funds has limited uptake.  Dedicated funds or streams specifically designed to finance natural infrastructure, such as the new Natural Infrastructure Fund announced in Budget 2021, will help expand investment.  Allowing smaller project sizes and a bundling of multiple projects can also facilitate financing.

Nature is not a silver bullet solution to climate change. But innovative policy approaches to natural infrastructure in cities, and Indigenous-led initiatives can play a big part in tackling local and global challenges. 

Paige Olmsted is a Senior Research Associate at Smart Prosperity Institute. Sonia Patel is a Research Associate at Smart Prosperity Institute.