This work aimed to evaluate the potential of blue-green roofs (GRs) to serve as a climate change adaptation strategy in cities by evaluating three ecosystem services (reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, cooling of the microclimate, and stormwater management) were affected by design and management factors. We compared daytime GHG emissions (CO2, CH4, and N2O), daily substrate temperatures, and the water balance of 48 GR mesocosms in northeastern Italy during two monitoring periods. Four plant species (Sedum spp., cold season grasses, warm season grasses, or wildflowers), two substrate depths (8 or 14 cm), and two irrigation levels (1 or 2 L m-2 day-1) were evaluated, for a total of 16 treatments with 3 replicates. Our results suggest that deeper substrate depths provided greater thermal benefits and water retention, plant species was the most important consideration for GHGs and water balance, and irrigation levels were only important during the hottest months.