Green infrastructure for air quality plus (GI4AQ+): Defining critical dimensions for implementation in schools and the meaning of ‘plus’ in a UK context

Abstract

Mitigating poor quality air is vital for children's health, especially in urban areas. In recent years, attention has been paid on how to improve air quality around schools to reduce children's exposure to airborne pollutants. In this paper, we explore the use of green infrastructure for improving air quality in schools as a multifunctional nature-based solution (green infrastructure for air quality plus, ‘GI4AQ+’); a process that comprises additional (co-)benefits, trade-offs or disbenefits for the school community. We report on a collaborative, action-research project that implements a green fence in a school playground in Sheffield, UK with the specific aim of improving local air quality, but potentially provides other benefits as well as drawbacks. Our results suggest that GI4AQ+ provides multiple social, environmental, and economic co-benefits beyond air quality provisioning. Furthermore, four dimensions (place, physical and biological characteristics, and school-friendly considerations) were identified to facilitate the implementation of this type of project in other schools. Thus, GI4AQ+ appears to be a valuable strategy for school greening. These interventions may also encourage school communities to identify and procure the delivery of other co-benefits from green infrastructure.

Keywords

• Air quality
• Nature-based solutions
• Green infrastructure
• Co-production
• Schools