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5. Enhancing Carbon Storage through Green and Blue Infrastructure

5.1 Main findings

Nordic cities are increasingly integrating green and blue infrastructure to enhance carbon storage, biodiversity, and climate resilience. Urban green spaces and forests, such as those in Stockholm's Hammarby Sjöstad,
 help sequester carbon and mitigate heat islands, while blue infrastructure, exemplified by Oslo's River Renewal Project,
 improves flood resilience and water quality. The use of bio-based building materials is also gaining traction, as seen in Denmark’s Biological House “Det Biologiske Hus” ,
 which offers sustainable construction alternatives that contribute to carbon reduction. However, challenges like competing land use, maintenance needs, and regulatory barriers complicate implementation. Projects such as Heidelberg Cement’s carbon capture and storage initiative and AquaGreen’s biochar technology demonstrate the potential for industry-led innovations to drive sustainability. These technologies reduce CO2 emissions, produce renewable energy, and enable more resource-efficient urban development. Key enablers for scaling these solutions include supportive policies, green financing, and community engagement, alongside short-term interventions like climate budgeting, preferred procurement practices, and design competitions.

5.2 Opportunities and best practices

Many Nordic cities integrate green and blue infrastructure to enhance carbon storage, improve biodiversity, and increase climate resilience. 
  • Urban Green Spaces and Forests: Parks, green roofs, and urban forests are crucial for carbon sequestration and mitigating urban heat islands.
    Case study: Hammarby Sjöstad (Stockholm, Sweden)

    Hammarby Sjöstad is a pioneering eco-district in Stockholm that integrates extensive urban green spaces, including parks and green roofs. The development emphasizes carbon sequestration and reduces urban heat islands through its green infrastructure. These spaces improve air quality, provide recreational areas, and enhance urban biodiversity while contributing to the district's overall sustainability.
  • Blue Infrastructure: Enhancing water bodies in urban areas supports carbon sequestration, flood resilience, and water quality.
    Case study: The River Renewal Project (Oslo, Norway)

    Oslo's River Renewal Project enhances rivers and waterways by improving water quality, creating natural flood defences, and integrating blue infrastructure. A notable example is the Teglverksdammen Project, completed in 2015, which reopened 650 meters of the Hovinbekken stream with a NOK 110 million investment. It features natural cleaning systems and has become a popular area for recreation and biodiversity. Since 2016 there is a NOK 140 million City Investment Budget to support carbon sequestration and flood resilience.
  • Biobased Building Materials: Sustainable materials like hemp insulation, cork, and wood fibre are leading a shift towards environmentally friendly construction practices.
    Case Study: The Biological House “Det Biologiske Hus” (Middlefart, Denmark)

    This sustainable housing concept is built entirely from bio-based materials sourced from agricultural waste, such as grass, straw, seaweed, and eelgrass. Designed with Cradle-to-Cradle principles, the house is fully biodegradable at the end of its lifecycle. It introduces a new construction method to Denmark's prefabricated housing market, focusing on material upcycling and closed material cycles. The modular design offers a concrete solution to future climate and economic challenges while maintaining high architectural quality.
    Case Study: Heerup Skole (Copenhagen, Denmark)

    Heerup Skole is a school being developed as a two-story building constructed with Cross-Laminated Timber (CLT), showcasing a commitment to sustainability. The project emphasizes the use of emissions-free machinery, limited to under 2.5 tons, aligning with modern environmental standards. This approach not only reduces the carbon footprint of the construction process but also highlights the school's dedication to incorporating sustainable materials and practices.
    Case Study: Herrestaskolan (Barkarbystaden, Sweden)

    Herrestaskolan, completed in 2016, is Sweden’s first school built entirely with cross-laminated timber (CLT). The 8,200m² building uses 3,100m³ of timber, including both CLT and glulam, and features a sports hall, library, and canteen. Designed to be energy self-sufficient, the building stores 2,500 tons of CO2 and meets the highest Swedish sustainability certification. Herrestaskolan is a central part of the community and has become a model for sustainable wood construction, showcasing how public procurement can drive innovation in low-carbon building.

5.3 Main Barriers

Implementing green and blue infrastructure is vital for enhancing carbon storage in urban environments. However, the effectiveness of these initiatives is often hindered by competing land uses and concerns about their long-term viability. To maximize the benefits of such projects, urban planners must prioritize the maintenance of green spaces and foster community engagement. By building local support and ensuring that these initiatives align with community needs, cities can enhance the effectiveness and sustainability of their green and blue infrastructure efforts.

5.4 Recommendations

  1. Develop National Strategies for Urban Planning and Resilience
    • Set targets for integrating green and blue infrastructure into urban planning to enhance carbon sequestration.
  2. Increase Investment in Green and Blue Infrastructure
    • Expand urban green spaces to reduce heat islands and enhance carbon storage while restoring rivers and wetlands.
  3. Strengthen Public-Private Partnerships for Green Financing
    • Foster collaboration between the public and private sectors to develop and maintain green and blue infrastructure projects, leveraging green bonds and sustainability-linked loans to secure funding.
  4. Mandate Life-Cycle Analysis (LCA) for Urban Development
    • Integrate life-cycle assessments into all large-scale urban planning projects to assess the environmental impact from material selection to long-term energy use, incentivizing the use of sustainable materials like Cross-Laminated Timber.
vandkraftvaerk-paa-island-1-1200px kopier.jpgPhoto: Anders Vestergaard Jensen/norden.org
Nordic Council of Ministers I www.norden.org/publications I pub@norden.org