Cooling the City with Living Infrastructure in Canberra, Australia

Challenge

Canberra, Australia, continues heating up as roads and buildings absorb and trap heat, straining health, energy resources, and urban ecosystems.

Solution

Integrate urban trees, green roofs, permeable surfaces, and community greening programs to cool the city and build climate resilience.

Overview

Canberra, Australia’s capital city, is experiencing more pronounced urban heat island effects as climate change drives higher average temperatures and more frequent heat waves. Impervious surfaces such as roads, buildings, and pavements absorb and retain heat, pushing urban temperatures above those of surrounding rural areas. These conditions affect human comfort and health, strain energy resources, and place pressure on local ecosystems, including through water stress. Meanwhile, the city’s population is projected to surpass 600,000 by 2050 (Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2023).

The Australian Capital Territory (ACT) Government launched the Living Infrastructure Plan: Cooling the City to address these pressures through the strategic integration of natural elements into the urban environment. The plan is part of Canberra’s broader effort to improve climate resilience by expanding natural elements in urban spaces, reducing heat, and increasing sustainability.

The plan sets two targets for 2045:

• 30% tree canopy cover or equivalent living infrastructure, including green roofs, shrub beds, wetlands, and rain gardens.
• 30% permeable surfaces, transitioning from impervious materials to grass, gravel, and porous paving to improve water absorption and cooling.

These targets are designed to preserve Canberra’s “bush capital” character while building resilience to climate change. The plan pursues them through three themes.

Nurturing and expanding the urban forest

The ACT Government has committed to substantial changes in urban forest management. Efforts have intensified since 2019 to plant trees along walking and cycling routes, open spaces, and recreational areas. Progress is monitored every five years using Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) technology – a remote sensing method that maps vegetation cover accurately across large areas.

The planting of 54,000 trees across the ACT between 2021 and 2024 is a notable milestone, with community members encouraged to nominate locations for new plantings. The Urban Forest Strategy 2021-2045 guides these efforts toward the 30% canopy target. The Urban Forest Act 2023 had already introduced new protections for existing trees on both public and private land, emphasizing the importance of preserving mature trees alongside planting new ones.

Creating a climate-ready planning system

Urban planning and building design play a central role in managing heat. The ACT Government implemented climate-ready planning reforms through the 2023 Territory Plan and Planning Act, which emphasize the integration of natural elements into urban designs, ensuring homes remain comfortable during extreme heat events and that communities have access to green spaces.

Provisions have been strengthened to increase tree canopy cover across residential and commercial zones, promoting larger backyards and communal green areas. Lighter-colored roofs and green walls are under exploration, with community and industry consultations guiding potential implementations. A pilot study on microclimate assessments is also underway, aiming to evaluate and mitigate the urban heat impacts of new developments.

Empowering community-led efforts

The ACT Government launched the “Nature in the City: Cooling Your Suburb” program, offering grants to projects that aim to reduce urban heat islands and improve natural shade. Resources such as the climate-wise landscape guide and the Canberra Plant Selector assist residents, community groups, and professionals in creating climate-resilient gardens and public spaces. These tools provide guidance on selecting appropriate plant species and designing landscapes that thrive in Canberra’s climate.

Benefits and outlook

Living infrastructure provides multiple co-benefits. Trees and green spaces provide shade and facilitate evapotranspiration, a process through which plants release water vapor that cools the surrounding air. Permeable surfaces and vegetation improve water absorption, reducing the risk of flash flooding during heavy rainfall.

Green spaces serve as habitats for diverse flora and fauna, supporting biodiversity and ecological balance within the urban environment. Cooler, shaded areas also reduce reliance on air conditioning, lowering energy consumption and utility costs for households and businesses.

The Living Infrastructure Plan addresses immediate urban heat challenges while laying the groundwork for a sustainable and resilient urban future. The plan’s integration of government action, planning reform, and community empowerment positions Canberra as a model for how cities can weave natural ecosystems into urban development to counter the effects of climate change and improve quality of life for residents.

Acknowledgements

This report is based on publicly available information from the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) Government. Acknowledgement is given to the organizations and researchers that made this knowledge accessible. Reported by IGES, edited and updated by AP-PLAT.