Chau, Hing-Wah ORCID: 0000-0002-3501-9882, Abuseif, Majed ORCID: 0000-0001-8261-8418, Geng, Shiran ORCID: 0000-0001-6992-1420 and Jamei, Elmira ORCID: 0000-0002-4270-0326 (2025) Key Barriers and Challenges to Green Infrastructure Implementation: Policy Insights from the Melbourne Case. Land, 14. p. 961. ISSN 2073-445X

Abstract

Urbanisation has resulted in significant environmental challenges, particularlythe phenomenon of urban overheating, with a significant increase in temperatures in urbanenvironments. To tackle the adverse impact of urban overheating, the implementation ofgreen infrastructure (GI) has been considered particularly effective. Although there arevarious benefits of GI for sustainable urban management, its widespread implementationfaces numerous challenges. To effectively scale up the deployment of GI, it is crucial todevelop political and institutional frameworks that are both responsive and adaptable tothe evolving complexities inherent in human–nature interactions. The barriers to implemen-tation are not merely technical but also embedded in organisational norms, social practices,and governance systems, which makes them particularly difficult to overcome. This paperidentifies five key categories of barriers: technical limitations, financial impediments, regu-latory constraints, weak political leadership, and governance and coordination challenges.Through a targeted literature review and a detailed case study of Melbourne, the paperexplores the city’s primary greening initiatives and examines how these barriers haveinfluenced implementation. By linking specific policy responses to each barrier, this studyprovides new insights into the institutional and policy dynamics affecting GI adoption. Thefindings offer lessons for other cities seeking to better implement nature-based solutionsthrough integrated and scalable GI strategies.

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