Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland will play a role in shaping a sustainable urban future as host of the World Green Infrastructure Congress (WGIC) 2024.
The congress will take place September 3-5, 2024 at the University of Auckland, and is expected to deliver an estimated economic impact of NZ$1 million (US$592,545) to the city.
WGIC will cover urban nature-based solutions, green buildings, climate adaptation, green infrastructure, policies, and strategies. It will attract some 600 leaders from industry, academia and government to foster cross-disciplinary dialogues and shape a sustainable urban future.
The first two days of the congress will incorporate keynote and education sessions with up to 100 speakers, plus worldwide green infrastructure and green building awards. On the third day, delegates will embark on a Green Infrastructure Excursion Trip around Auckland showcasing some of the city’s sustainable infrastructure initiatives.
Zoë Avery, associate director of design at Auckland University School of Architecture and Planning, said: “Nature is a vital component of the sustainability and health of the city and should be considered as critical infrastructure.
“By incorporating green roofs, living facades, sustainable urban drainage and urban trees in our urban fabric we can help mitigate the effects of storm events, cool our cities, build more biodiversity and provide improved aesthetics for the health of people and nature in our cities.”
She added that New Zealand has a number of “low-tech nature-based solutions” that it can share with the world, such as the use of natural substrate and fibre; bringing mussels into the harbour to filter sediment out of the ocean; and the co-governance partnership with Ngāti Whātua Orakei, who grew the plants for the Auckland Library living roof at their Pourewa Revegetation Nursery.
The bid to host the event was led by the University of Auckland in association with Design for Nature. It was supported by Auckland Convention Bureau, a division of Tātaki Auckland Unlimited, and Tourism New Zealand Business Events.
