This article explores how cities like Portland can achieve Project Drawdown’s 9% green roof coverage target by 2050 through innovative economic strategies, public-private partnerships, and workforce development. Scaling green roofs transforms urban infrastructure, delivers climate benefits, and generates local jobs while addressing market limitations and the climate crisis.

Discover how extensive green roofs at The Parks at Walter Reed in Washington, D.C., mitigate stormwater runoff, enhance urban sustainability, and provide aesthetic and environmental benefits. Featuring LEED® Gold-certified designs and advanced roofing technologies, this project sets a benchmark for green infrastructure in urban redevelopment.

Revitalizing Houston's Barbara Jordan Post Office, the award-winning Skylawn by Hoerr Schaudt Landscape Architects transforms a historic site into a vibrant, sustainable rooftop park. This five-acre green roof integrates native ecosystems, stormwater management, urban farming, and community spaces, creating a dynamic hub for recreation, education, and biodiversity.

Toronto is leading the way in green infrastructure, integrating nature-based solutions into urban planning. From green roofs to the Green Streets Program, the city’s innovative policies enhance climate resilience and improve community well-being, setting a model for sustainable urban development.

As Toronto co-hosts the 20th Anniversary of CitiesAlive in November, this article chronicles the early policy steps taken by the City to mandate and incentivize green roofs, now covering more than 10 million sf of roof area.