Urban Green Infrastructure Policy as a Tool for Climate Adaptation: An Empirical Assessment

Urban green infrastructure (UGI) has emerged globally as a strategic policy tool for improving climate resilience, mitigating urban heat islands, reducing flood risks, and enhancing ecosystem services. This study empirically examines how UGI policy contributes to climate adaptation in rapidly urbanizing environments, with a particular focus on Nigerian cities. Urban green infrastructure (UGI) including parks, urban forests, green roofs, permeable pavements, rain gardens, and riparian buffers is increasingly recognized as a nature based solution for climate adaptation in rapidly urbanizing environments. This study empirically assesses the role of UGI policy in promoting climate resilience in three rapidly growing Nigerian cities. Using a mixed-methods approach combining spatial analysis, key informant interviews (n = 12), and household surveys (n = 400), the study examines the extent of UGI implementation, its perceived and measured impacts on urban heat and stormwater management, and the institutional/policy challenges hindering its efficacy. Results indicate that areas with higher UGI coverage record up to 3.5 °C lower surface temperatures than dense built-up zones, and significantly reduced surface runoff during heavy rainfall events and improve residents’ environmental quality perception by 61%.  Findings show that cities with structured UGI policies such as Abuja and Lagos demonstrate significantly higher levels of climate preparedness than cities without formal policy frameworks. However, policy implementation remains fragmented, with weak enforcement, limited funding, poor maintenance, and inadequate urban planning integration. The study concludes that while UGI has substantial potential for climate adaptation, realizing this requires robust policy frameworks, cross-sectoral coordination, and community involvement. The study recommends that UGI policy should be applied as a viable pathway to strengthening climate adaptation. The study also recommends better funding, institutional coordination, and integration into urban planning systems.