Green infrastructure offers a multitude of benefits that regions can apply towards their climate adaptation and disaster mitigation goals. As a climate mitigation strategy, green infrastructure can reduce the energy needed for heating and cooling, and eliminate carbon dioxide emissions through direct removal from the air and avoided emissions from power plants. As cities replace natural land cover with dense concentrations of pavement, buildings and other surfaces that absorb and retain heat, urban heat islands form. Green infrastructure features, such as green roofs, can cool urban areas by shading building surfaces, deflecting radiation from the sun, and releasing moisture into the atmosphere. Green infrastructure can also provide a range of climate adaptation benefits to regions facing changing climatic conditions and rising sea levels. By improving water infiltration, cities and regions can increase the recharge rate of their groundwater sources, thus improving the resilience of water supply.