By 2005, 50% of the world’s population lived in cities (Bindé, 1998), and in the industrialised world, the figure has already surpassed 80%. The growth in urban populations has and will continue to create a unique set of environmental problems, both within cities and inthe surrounding areas, due to the large demands for food, energy and water.

Many of these problems are either directly caused, or exacerbated by the removal of vegetation to accommodate urban expansion. It is expected that many of these problems will be further affected by climate change, particularly impacts that contribute to heat waves and the associated health problems, rapid temperature changes, stormwater runoff, water quality,biodiversity and food security.

Green roofs and vertical gardens have never been widely recognised or understood in Australia; hence we have a very limited knowledge and skill base for their design and implementation. It is an area that offers many diverse applications with outcomes thatdirectly benefit the client and the environment, while giving the industry a competitive edge and future growth.