Proefschrift

Building sustainable urban futures: integrated analysis of green and grey infrastructure in the Netherlands

This thesis addresses the challenge of sustainable urban development by analyzing the interplay between green and grey infrastructure to optimize resource use and ecosystem services.

Auteur: J. van Oorschot
Datum: 28 november 2024
Links: Thesis in Leiden Repository

Using the Netherlands as a case study, it explores material demands in the electricity and building sectors, emphasizing circular economy strategies and urban mining. Additionally, this thesis analyzes how green infrastructure development can be optimized for the provisioning of important ecosystem services, focusing on cooling, stormwater retention, air pollution removal, and green infrastructure availability. The research reveals that while circularity offers potential, achieving full circularity by 2050 is challenging due to long infrastructure lifespans. Scenario analysis shows substantial material demand growth, particularly for critical metals, driven by the energy transition. Green infrastructure development can enhance urban ecosystem services, such as cooling and stormwater retention, but trade-offs must be managed. The thesis introduces a framework for integrated analysis of green and grey infrastructure, highlighting the importance of spatial data and multi-scale perspectives. Key findings suggest that urban planning should consider both material use and ecosystem services to optimize sustainability. Circularity strategies and integrated green infrastructure planning are crucial for reducing environmental impacts and supporting the transition to sustainable urban systems.