What does green infrastructure typically provide besides improving water quality?

Green infrastructure is designed to manage stormwater and improve water quality while also providing additional environmental benefits. One of the key benefits is temperature regulation. Natural systems such as green roofs, permeable pavements, and urban forests help to cool urban environments by providing shade and through the process of evapotranspiration. This cooling effect can mitigate the urban heat island phenomenon, which occurs when urban areas become significantly warmer than their rural surroundings due to human activities.

The other options listed do not relate to the functions of green infrastructure. Increased concrete surfaces contradict the principles of green infrastructure, which aims to reduce impermeable surfaces to enhance water absorption and reduce runoff. More industrial areas would typically not correlate with the objectives of green infrastructure, which focuses on sustainability and environmental health rather than industrial development. Enhanced waste management is not a primary function of green infrastructure; rather, its main focus is on water management and the integration of natural processes into urban planning.