Justice and access in urban green spaces
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.35208/ert.1662685Keywords:
Urban green spaces, social justice, spatial justice, environmental justice, green gentrification, right to access nature, participatory planningAbstract
Urban green spaces have become central to discussions of sustainability and urban livability, yet significant disparities in access remain a pervasive challenge globally. This systematic literature review critically synthesizes scholarly works addressing the intersection of justice, equity, and urban green space planning. Drawing from foundational theories—Rawls' "Theory of Justice," Fainstein's "Just City," Harvey's "Right to the City," and the environmental ethics articulated by Leopold and Naess—the paper interrogates existing socioeconomic inequalities, green gentrification processes, ethical frameworks, and participatory governance practices in contemporary urban environments. The analysis reveals that despite widespread acknowledgment of urban greenery's ecological and social benefits, the distribution of these benefits is markedly uneven, frequently reinforcing existing socioeconomic divides. Additionally, green infrastructure projects, while improving urban environments, often inadvertently catalyze gentrification and displacement, undermining their intended equitable outcomes. Environmental justice perspectives further emphasize that equitable urban greening requires not only fair spatial distribution but also inclusive decision-making processes and cultural recognition. This review critically highlights conceptual and methodological limitations within current research, including inconsistent definitions of justice, geographical biases, and scale-dependent analyses. Addressing these gaps, it advocates for a holistic approach integrating distributive fairness, procedural inclusivity, and ethical considerations extending beyond anthropocentric values. Ultimately, the study contributes to the discourse by suggesting a paradigm shift toward ethically grounded and justice-oriented urban ecological planning, ensuring urban nature serves as a genuinely inclusive commons accessible equitably across diverse urban populations.
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