Abstract
Nature-based solutions such as green infrastructure present an opportunity to reduce air pollutant concentrations and greenhouse gas emissions. This paper presents new findings from a controlled field study in Ontario, Canada, evaluating the impact of productive applications of green infrastructure on air pollution and carbon dioxide concentrations across different agricultural morphologies compared to other non-productive applications. This study demonstrates that productive green infrastructure applications are as beneficial as non-productive applications in reducing ozone, nitrogen dioxide, and carbon dioxide concentrations. Nature-based solutions present an opportunity to build climate resilience into agricultural systems through supply-side mitigation and adaptation. The implementation of productive green infrastructure could be a viable agricultural practice to address multiple climate change impacts.
Highlights
Atmosphere 2021, 12, 1183. https://Approximately 25 percent of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions can be attributed to agricultural production [1]
The three sites selected for the field study included: (1) the rooftop fruit and vegetable garden located at the Instructional Centre building on the University of Toronto campus in suburban Scarborough; (2) the vegetable growing roof, extensive green roof, green wall, and rooftop medicine garden located at the Carrot Common in east Toronto; and (3) the tree-based intercropping system located at the Guelph Agroforestry Research
While the findings of this field study were limited to one summer season, they show the application of productive green infrastructure across different agricultural morphologies is as effective in air pollution abatement and GHG emissions reduction as other types of non-productive green infrastructure
Summary
Atmosphere 2021, 12, 1183. https://Approximately 25 percent of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions can be attributed to agricultural production [1]. Anthropogenic activities continue to change the atmospheric and surface conditions of the Earth, with significant generation of GHG emissions occurring in urban areas from deforestation, land use development, agricultural production, energy generation, vehicular and freight transportation, heavy industry, and buildings [3]. Solar and terrestrial interactions occur between these air pollutants and radiation These interactions impact on the Earth’s energy balance, leading to changes in climate [4,5]. Air pollution is influenced by climate change as a result of changes to the intensity, duration, and frequency of persistent weather events, heat waves, precipitation, and other meteorological phenomena [5,6,7,8,9,10]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
