Last updated: October 2021
The green roof pilot project is part of eThekwini Municipality's Climate Protection Programme, initiated in 2004, it was focused initially on understanding the vulnerability of the city of Durban to the impacts of climate change. A strong emphasis has been placed on identifying climate change adaption projects that will improve the resilience of the city to future developmental, social and environmental challenges. Basically, the green roof pilot project is a response to the higher temperatures and increase in the frequency and severity of floods and droughts that are expected as a result of climate change. From an urban environment perspective, these changes will exacerbate the already high temperatures experienced as a result of the Urban Heat Island effect and the high levels of surface run-off and flooding that result from the hardening of permeable surfaces. (1,3)
Durban - GRPP
http://www.durban.gov.za/City_Services/development_planning_management/environmental_planning_climate_protection/Projects/Pages/Green-Roof.aspx
Overview
Nature-based solution
- Nature on buildings (external)
- Green roofs
Key challenges
- Climate action for adaptation, resilience and mitigation (SDG 13)
- Climate change adaptation
- Climate change mitigation
- Water management (SDG 6)
- Flood protection
- Stormwater and rainfall management and storage
- Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
- Habitat and biodiversity conservation
- Green space creation and/or management
Focus
Creation of new green areas, Monitoring and maintenance of habitats and/or biodiversity
Project objectives
The overall aim of the programme is to make Durban more resilient to existing and future climate challenges as it is a city that has been exposed severely to climatic changes. In this sense the goals of the intervention are the following:
1. Protect the city from intense, short rainfall events which could lead to flooding. Green roofs assist in adapting to these impacts, by reducing the temperatures of buildings, reducing the ‘heat island effect’, and attenuating stormwater run-off flooding that results from the hardening of permeable surfaces in the city. (1,2)
2. Potentially play an important role in mitigating climate change, by lowering the temperature of buildings and therefore reducing the use of air conditioners that utilise electricity. (3)
3. Provide mutual benefits in terms of biodiversity enhancement and climate regulation. (3)
4. Establish a good environmental practice as at the time of its creation the GRPP was a novelty in South Africa and in Durban. One of the objectives of the GRPP is to better understand how to create these green rooftop habitats in Durban and elsewhere by using local resources. (2)
Implementation activities
The project was initiated in 2008 by eThekwini Municipality’s Environmental Planning and Climate Protection Department (EPCPD) and is still ongoing.The GRPP is situated on the roof of a building in the City Engineers Complex at 166 KE Masinga Road (Old Fort Road), Durban. The roof was selected for the GRPP for the following reasons:
-It is a flat roof with easy access.
-The roof is highly visible to those that visit the City Engineers Complex.
The carrying capacity of the roof was assessed by a structural engineer and found to be suitable for the project.
The GRPP was divided into three areas: areas where a direct green roof system was used; areas where a modular green roof system was used; and control areas. A structural engineer determined the carrying capacity of the roof selected. The loading capacity of the roof was estimated to be between 100-150kg per m2. A number of plants were selected and planted. Monitoring started as early as late 2009 (2)
Climate-focused activities
Climate change adaptation:
- Implement green walls or roofs to lower indoor temperature and provide insulation
- Implement sustainable urban drainage infrastructure (e.g. to make space for water)
Climate change mitigation:
- Install vertical or horizontal artificial surfaces that help with carbon storage and cooling
Biodiversity conservation or restoration-focused activities
Biodiversity conservation:
- Protect species
- Undertake specific measures to protect species
- Means for conservation governance
- Manage biological resources for conservation and sustainable use
- Other
Main beneficiaries
- Local government/Municipality
- Citizens or community groups
Governance
Management set-up
- Government-led
Type of initiating organisation
- Local government/municipality
Participatory approaches/ community involvement
- Unknown
Details on the roles of the organisations involved in the project
Durban is an archetypal African city. It is the largest city and port on the east coast of Africa and is planned and managed by eThekwini Municipality, which implemented the green roof project. The municipality hired Dr Clive Greenstone and plant specialist and green roof designer and builder Michael Hickman. (5)
Project implemented in response to ...
... an EU policy or strategy?
No
... a national policy or strategy?
No
... a local policy or strategy?
Yes
(A number of important climate change-related interventions were instigated as a direct consequence of hosting the 2010 FIFA World Cup in Durban; these included reforestation projects with mitigation, adaptation and social upliftment co-benefits, as well as urban greening initiatives and awareness-raising. Hosting the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change COP17/CMP7 negotiations has extended these efforts, providing the opportunity to increase awareness of climate change and the climate protection work that is being done by eThekwini Municipality. In response to the challenges that climate change poses, eThekwini Municipality initiated a Municipal Climate Protection Programme in 2004 and the green roof project was part of the Programme. (4))
Financing
Total cost
Unknown
Source(s) of funding
- Unknown
Type of funding
- Unknown
Non-financial contribution
Unknown
Impacts and Monitoring
Environmental impacts
- Climate change
- Lowered local temperature
- Water management and blue areas
- Increased protection against flooding
- Improved stormwater management
- Green space and habitat
- Promotion of naturalistic styles of landscape design for urban development
- Increased green space area
- Reduced biodiversity loss
Economic impacts
- Unknown
Socio-cultural impacts
- Other
Type of reported impacts
Achieved impacts
Presence of formal monitoring system
Yes
Presence of indicators used in reporting
Yes
Presence of monitoring/ evaluation reports
Yes
Availability of a web-based monitoring tool
No evidence in public records
References
1. The official website of the Durban Municipality (no date), Green Roofs, Source link (accessed 08.09.2021)
2. Environmental Planning and Climate Protection Department eThekwini Municipality (2011), Creating space for biodiversity in Durban, Source link (accessed 08.09.2021)
3. Source link (no date), ETHEKWINI MUNICIPALITY GREEN ROOF PILOT PROJECT, Source link (accessed 08.09.2021)
4.Environmental Planning and Climate Protection Department of Durban's Municipality (2011), Durban: a climate for change – Transforming Africa’s future, Source link (accessed 08.09.2021)
5. HLEM (no date), Green Roof Construction; Green Roof Research Project Durban, Source link (accessed 08.09.2021)
2. Environmental Planning and Climate Protection Department eThekwini Municipality (2011), Creating space for biodiversity in Durban, Source link (accessed 08.09.2021)
3. Source link (no date), ETHEKWINI MUNICIPALITY GREEN ROOF PILOT PROJECT, Source link (accessed 08.09.2021)
4.Environmental Planning and Climate Protection Department of Durban's Municipality (2011), Durban: a climate for change – Transforming Africa’s future, Source link (accessed 08.09.2021)
5. HLEM (no date), Green Roof Construction; Green Roof Research Project Durban, Source link (accessed 08.09.2021)
https://www.greenroofs.com/projects/ethekwini-municipality-green-roof-pilot-project/
Information about this nature-based solution was collected as part of the UNA global extension project funded by the British Academy.