Urban Green Infrastructure for Carbon Sequestration: Integrating Land Restoration, Biodiversity Conservation and Climate Mitigation
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.36808/if/2026/v152i6A/171267Keywords:
Urban Green Infrastructure (UGI), Carbon sequestration, Land restoration, Biodiversity conservation, Climate mitigation.Abstract
Urban regions account for around 70% of worldwide Carbon dioxide (CO ) 2 emissions despite comprising less than 2% of the land; yet urban green infrastructure (UGI) remains inadequately employed as a climate mitigation approach. This paper formulates a cohesive framework that identifies carbon sequestration, land restoration, and biodiversity conservation as interconnected elements of urban climate initiatives. Using peer-reviewed literature, it demonstrates that UGI types vary in carbon storage capacity; however, results are significantly affected by species composition, soil health, management approaches, and urban environmental limitations. Land restoration strategies, such as brown field rehabilitation, phytoremediation, and soil supplements, coupled with biodiversity-focused design that prioritizes native species and ecological linkages, are recognized as essential for enduring carbon sequestration. Case studies from Singapore, Medellín, New York City, and several Indian cities illustrate that UGI can yield quantifiable climatic and ancillary benefits, such as urban cooling, storm water management, and biodiversity restoration, when underpinned by sustained governance and oversight. Nonetheless, fragmented planning, insufficient funding, the absence of uniform carbon accounting, and equity issues, including green gentrification, hinder broader implementation. The article advocates for enforceable planning objectives, standardized monitoring, reporting, and verification mechanisms, incorporation into national climate programs, and equity safeguards to facilitate scalable and equitable implementation.
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