S07 - Session O3 - Keynote: The ornamental horticulture industry connects knowledge to practice for greener and sustainable cities

Authors: Audrey Timm *

There is strong political and scientific consensus around the issue of adaptation and city resilience, with a growing recognition for the essential role of plants in contributing to city solutions and healthy communities. Bold commitments for focussed change can be misplaced in the absence of an informed implementation strategy. Some resistance is reported when promoting the use of nature-based solutions alongside, or in replacement for, engineered solutions, due to uncertainty of performance and measurable benefits. AIPH has been investigating the pinch-points and motivators that lead to mainstreaming of the use of green city principles in city planning and policy. Recent advances in metrics and standards are highly influential in driving change, and key initiatives and their application on a local and national scale will be discussed. Issues such as green gentrification, plant breeding for a changing climate, carbon capture, and plant selection can be addressed with multi-disciplinary collaborative dialogue and action. This keynote address will present case studies that demonstrate how the horticulture industry stands at the interface between intention and action.