Original title: A Multicriteria Multimethod Analysis of Barriers for Green Infrastructure Implementation in Developing Countries: A Case Study of Sri Lanka
Udya Abeysinghe, Archana Sharma, Jagath Munasinghe · September 2026
Cities use Urban Green Infrastructure, or natural networks like parks and green spaces, to boost climate resilience and meet global sustainability goals. However, developing nations are falling behind on using these nature-based tools. To understand why, researchers studied Sri Lanka. They reviewed existing literature, evaluated local green policies and projects, and surveyed key stakeholders using an expert consensus method called the Delphi techniqueA structured way of gathering expert opinions through several rounds of questions, with anonymous feedback, until a consensus emerges.. They discovered five major challenges blocking progress. Sri Lanka lacks a shared definition of these green networks, clear classifications based on natural functions, design tools fitted for crowded urban spaces, political will in urban planning, and strong legal rules for shared governance. To move forward, the authors propose mapping out knowns and unknowns, categorizing projects by ecological function or community place-makingDesigning public spaces to make them more attractive and useful for the people who live nearby., applying adaptable design rules, and upgrading regulations. These steps can help cities build resilience and meet United Nations targets.
Imagine a neighborhood committee trying to plan a shared garden, but no one can agree on what a garden is for. Some want vegetables, some want flowers, some want a playground. Every proposal gets vetoed because it does not match someone's idea, so nothing ever gets built. In this paper, Sri Lankan cities face the same deadlock over urban green space: without a shared definition or clear rules, projects stall and the climate benefits never arrive.
Developing countries are falling behind on green infrastructure even though it could help them meet global sustainability goals. This study identifies the specific barriers in Sri Lanka, so planners and policymakers know what to tackle first.
The abstract doesn't say. It does note the study is a review and a case study of Sri Lanka, so findings may not generalize. It also doesn't test the proposed solutions—it only suggests them.
Ask anything about this paper. Answers come from its abstract, and say so when the abstract doesn't cover your question.
A Multicriteria Multimethod Analysis of Barriers for Green Infrastructure Implementation in Developing Countries: A Case Study of Sri Lanka — Udya Abeysinghe, Archana Sharma, Jagath Munasinghe — SocArXiv — doi:10.31235/osf.io/784n6_v1
Abstract licence: CC BY
Explanation generated by Synthesis from the abstract — it is not the original paper. This is a preprint, so it hasn't necessarily been peer reviewed.