World Green Infrastructure Congress, 3-5 September 2024

World Green Infrastructure Congress, 3-5 September 2024

The World Green Infrastructure Congress 2024 (WGIC) will take place from 3 – 5 September in Auckland, New Zealand! Early bird registration is now open! Want to be a speaker at WGIC? Submit an abstract here!

World Green Infrastructure Congress is the leading global event promoting an exchange of knowledge and inspiration between professionals, companies, associations, institutions, public authorities and scientists to discuss nature-based solutions. Our reliance and impact on the environment underline the need for sustainable urban environments, where biodiversity, water and society are regenerated.

Early bird registration is now open! Register until 10 May to benefit from the early bird discount!

The goal of the 2024 Congress is to catalyse the use of nature-based solutions in urban environments. By coming together as an international community with experience and expertise, we aim to progress action on climate resilience, both environmentally, socially and economically.

In 2024, the University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau, in collaboration with Design for Nature and the World Green Infrastructure Network will be hosting the 11th World Green Infrastructure Congress in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland, Aotearoa New Zealand.

The conference will enable an environment for strategic discussions amongst sponsors and delegates alike. We are expecting 600 delegates who are at the forefront of green infrastructure strategy, policy, research, design and technology.

The conference theme emphasises the inseparable bond between us and the natural world. Our reliance and impact on the environment underline the need for sustainable and respectful urban environments, where biodiversity, water and society are regenerated. This theme will guide the following five streams.

  • Urban Strategies, Policy and Regulation
  • Environment and biodiversity
  • Technology and innovation
  • Built environment and urban form
  • Building neighbourhoods that help communities thrive and create a sense of place

Be one of our Speakers
If you have a great idea for a presentation for WGIC 2024, we would love to hear from you. Review the abstracts requirements and submit until 8 March, 2024 here. 

Early bird registration
Register until 10 May for an early bird discount! Limited tickets available. Registration closes on Monday 26 August 2024. f you are looking to register a large group of people, please contact us at wgic24@auckland.ac.nz. 

Become a Sponsor
Want to be part of this prestigious event? We have a range of sponsorship packages to suit your needs and budget. View sponsorship opportunities here.

To find more information, visit www.wgic2024.org

Register now for WGIC 2024!

Submit your abstract here!

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Green roof research measures performance, but not yet people

New study maps 25 years of green roof literature and finds affordability and social equity nearly invisible. Submitted by WGIN members Ferre Maes and Bert Belmans In a study published in City and Environment Interactions, WGIN members Ferre Maes and Bert Belmans, together with Roméo Delcroix (Vrije Universiteit Brussel), analysed more than 3,500 green roof articles published between 2000 and 2025. They tracked how often 13 performance dimensions appear in titles, abstracts and keywords. The results show a clear imbalance. Stormwater management appears in 37% of publications, urban heat island mitigation in 19% and building energy in 18%. Affordability (1.7%) and social equity (3.2%) are among the least visible topics in the field, and have remained marginal for 25 years. The study does not show that green roof implementation is inequitable; it shows that the published evidence cannot yet answer this question. Research on parks, urban greening and green stormwater infrastructure engages with affordability and equity far more often, which shows this gap can be closed. There is no reason green roof research can’t do the same. A call to action WGIN’s mission is to advocate and promote the integration of green infrastructure in urban planning, globally. But planning decides who benefits, and evidence on who benefits is largely missing. If we want cities, funders and residents to trust green roofs as a public good, we need to be open about what we know and what we don’t. That openness is also an opportunity: evidence on affordability and equity is what opens the door to public funding, social housing and neighbourhoods green roofs have yet to reach. We call on our community to: Count people, not just performance. In research papers, project reports and case studies alike, report cost, access and who benefits alongside technical results. In publications, name affordability and equity explicitly in titles and abstracts so the work can be found. Plan for equity from the start. Build these questions into green roof strategies, subsidies, projects and research calls, before roofs are built. Make costs transparent. Manufacturers, installers and researchers alike can share life-cycle cost data, from installation and maintenance to lifespan and savings, in a consistent and anonymised format, so support schemes can reach beyond those who can already afford a green roof. Neighbouring fields already study performance and people together. The green roof community can too! Read the full paper here: 10.1016/j.cacint.2026.100476 (open access)

WGIN Global Green Roof Professional Development and Accreditation Programme – Call for National Associations Partners

In April 2026, WGIN launched the Global Green Roof Professional Development and Accreditation Programme. This initiative aims to establish an internationally recognised professional training programme focused on green roof design, installation practices, maintenance, and long-term performance. The online training is designed to deliver a set of universal quality best practices rooted in knowledge rather than technical skills. The programme’s intent is to accelerate the development of national and regional green roof markets by providing online training and accreditation.  The Global Green Roof Professional Development and Accreditation Programme is now looking for two national associations to design national training modules and examination questions based on the core curriculum developed under this project. The application process is open until 7 September. Selected national associations will be contacted by 21 September. For more information, see the call for interest. To apply for the call of interest, visit this link.

In Memoriam: Professor Nigel Dunnett (1963–2026) – A Champion for Biodiversity in Living Cities

The global green infrastructure community is saddened by the loss of Professor Nigel Dunnett, who passed away on April 26, 2026, at the age of 63. As a visionary horticulturalist, author, and Professor of Planting Design and Urban Horticulture at the University of Sheffield, Nigel was one of the world’s most influential voices in redefining the relationship between nature, architecture, and urban planning. At the World Green Infrastructure Network (WGIN), we honor his extraordinary legacy. Nigel did not just design gardens; he pioneered a philosophy that transformed urban spaces into dynamic, climate-resilient, and living ecosystems. Nigel was actively involved with the World Green Infrastructure Network (WGIN) as the UK representative in WGIN. Nigel participated in several congresses of the network, among others in Toronto in 2009, Mexico in 2010 and in Nantes, France in 2013. He advanced the field of knowlegde and practice in urban biodiversity through his guidance of several PhD candidates and the legendary internationally inclusive conferences in Sheffield. A Leading Voice for the Green Infrastructure Community of Practice Nigel Dunnett was central to the transformation of the green infrastructure movement, shifting the global professional focus from sterile, hard landscapes to biodiverse, high-performing “soft” infrastructure. He bridges the gap between rigorous ecological science and breathtaking artistic design, proving that urban greening could be simultaneously wild, functional, and deeply beautiful.His contributions to our community of practice are monumental: A Pioneer of Naturalistic Planting: Alongside his long-time collaborator James Hitchmough, Nigel pioneered ecological, seed-based naturalistic planting. He challenged traditional, high-maintenance landscape management by proving that diverse, low-input plant communities could thrive in harsh urban environments. Transforming Public Consciousness: His high-profile masterworks brought the concepts of urban biodiversity and green infrastructure into the global spotlight. From the spectacular, climate-adapted expanses of the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park to the Tower of London “Superbloom” and the Barbican Beech Gardens, Nigel showed the world what a green city could truly look like. Sustainable Urban Drainage (SuDS): Nigel was a fierce advocate for integrating water management into the urban fabric. His work on the Sheffield “Grey to Green” project remains a gold-standard blueprint for how cities can use bioswales and urban vegetation to mitigate flooding while enhancing public life. Author: Nigel authored Planting Green Roofs and Living Walls (co-authored with Noël Kingsbury) Dunnett and Kingsbury shifted the narrative on building integrated green infrastructure by arguing that green roofs and living walls should be designed as dynamic, highly biodiverse, and aesthetically pleasing ecological systems. Together with Andy Clayden Nigel co-authored Rain Gardens: Managing Water sustainably in the Garden and Designed Landscape. Following the same philosophical line as his work on green roofs, Nigel revolutionized how landscape architects and garden designers approach urban hydrology. Educator and Innovator: Beyond his books and research papers, he founded the social enterprise Pictorial Meadows, democratizing ecological urban design by making wildflower meadow systems accessible to municipalities worldwide. As an educator, he inspired multiple generations of landscape architects to prioritize ecological integrity. Healing Through Nature: The Aberdeen Royal Infirmary Roof Garden While Nigel’s grand urban masterplans won international acclaim, my personal favorite of Nigel’s many contributions to our field is the role he played in the creation of The Robertson Family Roof Garden at the Aberdeen Royal Infirmary. The project originated from Nigel’s gold medal-winning RBC Blue Water Roof Garden at the 2013 RHS Chelsea Flower Show. Rather than letting the installation disapear after the show, Nigel collaborated with the hospital’s Chaplin James Bell Falconer to adapt the design and installation into a permanent, 24/7 therapeutic sanctuary in the heart of the hospital. Opened officially by Queen Elizabeth II in 2017, the garden represents a pinnacle of biophilic, inclusive healthcare design. Nigel engineered the rooftop to be entirely accessible, ensuring that even critically ill, fully ventilated patients from the intensive care unit could be wheeled outside to experience the open air, the rustle of grasses, and the scent of trees. The Aberdeen roof garden stands as a powerful testament to Nigel’s belief that access to nature is not a luxury, but a fundamental human right—and an essential component of clinical recovery and psychological restoration. A Lasting Legacy Nigel Dunnett’s work altered the trajectory of modern landscape architecture. He taught us that urban nature should not be merely decorative, but an active, spontaneous, and healing force woven deeply into our buildings and streets. The World Green Infrastructure Network extends our deepest condolences to his wife Marta, sons Alex and Jack, colleagues, and the countless students and professionals he inspired.