Synergies and drawbacks of applying Green Infrastructure to increase resilience against epidemics

Green infrastructure (GI) in urban environments has the potential to increase resilience against epidemics, that goes beyond creating physical barriers to separate people at safe distances. However, potential drawbacks exist as well. This paper synthesizes the synergies, drawbacks, and unknown factors when applying GI to increase resilience against epidemics. Moreover, as local experts in disaster management we reflect on the feasibility of implementing GI for this purpose in different areas around the world. Results show that GI is already being implemented to reach various goals, including increasing resilience against hazards. Successfully extending these goals to include epidemic resilience would require funding more than stakeholder acceptance, as well as considering trade-offs with other potential epidemics.Green infrastructure (GI) in urban environments has the potential to increase resilience against epidemics, that goes beyond creating physical barriers to separate people at safe distances. However, potential drawbacks exist as well. This paper synthesizes the synergies, drawbacks, and unknown factors when applying GI to increase resilience against epidemics. Moreover, as local experts in disaster management we reflect on the feasibility of implementing GI for this purpose in different areas around the world. Results show that GI is already being implemented to reach various goals, including increasing resilience against hazards. Successfully extending these goals to include epidemic resilience would require funding more than stakeholder acceptance, as well as considering trade-offs with other potential epidemics.