Green Infrastructure: The Case of Curitiba, Brazil

Infrastructure is essential for addressing climate and environmental goals. Energy, transport, and water systems contribute to 60% of the world’s carbon emissions.

However, the way we currently build and use infrastructure is harming the environment through pollution and biodiversity loss. Since infrastructure lasts a long time, the choices we make now will impact emissions and the ability to achieve sustainable development in the future. Green infrastructure sets itself apart from traditional methods of land conservation and natural resources protection by integrating conservation efforts with land development and the planning of man-made infrastructure.

Green infrastructure has many different definitions, but in general, it refers to natural plant systems and eco-friendly technologies that bring many benefits to society, such as economic, environmental, health, and social advantages. Examples include urban forests, wetlands, green roofs, parks, and urban agriculture. It also involves having enough good-quality soil to support green infrastructure and absorb water, along with technologies like porous pavements and rain barrels that mimic the functions of natural ecosystems, like storing and filtering stormwater.

One particular successful story is Curitiba (pronounced as kruh — chee — buh) in Brazil, whose strategic planning “put people at the center and emphasized integrated planning,” leading the city to become a “showcase of ecological and humane urbanism, with ongoing improvements … to social, economic and environmental conditions for its residents” (Nicole Mikesh, “Curitiba, Brazil,” University of Washington). Curitiba is considered a pioneer in sustainable urban planning.

One of Curitiba’s innovations is called the Bus Rapid Transit System. This system includes special lanes for buses, designed to make boarding fast and easy. The buses are affordable and have consistent ticket prices, ensuring a quick, inexpensive, and eco-friendly transit experience.

The city also has streets exclusively for pedestrians and designated bike lanes, further contributing to the efficient and sustainable transportation system. Additionally, since the 1970s, Curitiba has planted 1.5 million trees and created 28 public parks. To address the issue of flooding that used to harm the city, Curitiba established grassy fields around the urban area instead of building expensive dams.

The maintenance of these fields is done using sheep, which saves both money and oil, while also providing manure for farmers and wool. Also, the city recycles approximately 70 percent of its waste through an innovative program that offers bus tokens, notebooks, and food in exchange for recycling. This not only helps the environment but also improves education, enhances food availability, and provides transportation opportunities for the city’s underprivileged population.

Finally, Curitiba is home to the Free University for the Environment, a learning institution that empowers the city’s disadvantaged population by educating them about sustainability. The city uses signs and information panels to inform citizens about its green design. By promoting a culture of pride in sustainability and spreading knowledge, Curitiba successfully maintains its green initiatives.

Taking care of the land is a shared responsibility for all of us. How we maintain our homes and surroundings can impact the larger natural environment. Stewardship involves practices that acknowledge the value of the land, such as preserving diverse ecosystems, controlling floods, and preserving beautiful landscapes. By caring for the land today, we ensure these benefits are preserved for generations to come.

Land stewardship is commonly viewed as the duty of the government or conservation organizations. However, in truth, every individual living, working, or spending time on the land has a role to play as a steward. While the government may lead in protecting the land, private groups, citizens, and especially Indigenous communities with extensive traditional knowledge, can also contribute significantly to its management and care.