Lack of Urban Green Space
An International Environmental Justice Problem
Introduction
An environmental justice issue that affects so many communities is the lack of green space. Green space in urban areas usually refers to a park. Most cities have green areas throughout them for the health of the citizens. In areas that are predominantly lower income or a minority group tend to have less green space. Green spaces are very important to maintain good air quality and promote exercise. There are many cases of this environmental justice problem that were acknowledged and even fixed. A few examples are Tartu, Estonia, Faro, Portugal, and Phoenix, Arizona. Green space is something everyone should have equal access to, but due to the environmental justice problem certain groups are deprived of easily accessible green space.
The Problem
There are three major problems in locations that have a lack of green space. Lack of green space affects the environment, health, and the economy.
Effects on the Environment
Green spaces help with pollution, provide wildlife habitats, and water filtration. The soil helps filter rainfall preventing sewers from getting to full and flooding (Wolch, 2014).
Effects on the Health of the Citizens
Green spaces also help mental health and physical health. Those surrounded by green spaces are less likely to have anxiety and depression and more likely to be physically active. This reduces the chances of cardiovascular disease, asthma, and much more (Jennings, 2012).
Effects on the Economy
The way green spaces help the economy is that they provide trails for bikers and recreation that reduce the amount of automobiles used. Green spaces also provide trees that provide shade and replace the need of air conditioners (Hoffimann).
Documented Cases and Their Impacts
A few cases I am looking at are in Faro, Phoenix, and Tartu. In the cases in Tartu and Faro there is a lack of green spaces near poorer neighborhoods. The study looked into why there was a lack in the first place and how to fix it. They made a plan for builders to fix the problem and provide all of the communities with adequate green space. The study that looks at Phoenix, Arizona looks specifically at where green spaces are located in respect to communities of people of minority races. This study is meant to inform people of how green space locations are not random but are based on demographics. They do not propose an exact solution like the other study, but instead provide the information the citizens need to fight back (So, 2016).
Phoenix, Arizona
European Cities
Tartu, Estonia
Faro, Portugal
Solutions
Solutions to this problem would be to address the locations of green space in respect to demographics and add green space where it is needed. But this would obviously require a lot of grass roots movements. In order to fix this problem it needs to be addressed why exactly it is happening in the first place. Other environmental justice problems, such as the location of waste centers, have a clear reason. They put the waste centers where they will not get backlash. The opposite could be said for green spaces. They put them where they would get backlash if there were not any. The citizens in high income communities expect green space and might complain if their was not any. So in order to make other areas the same, the citizens need to be educated. If every area of a city is educated on the benefits of green space they would be more likely to demand it. And eventually the builders and companies would realize that it needs to be put in all communities to avoid backlash (Wolch, 2014).
Sources
Hoffimann, Elaine, et al. “Socioeconomic Inequalities in Green Space Quality and Accessibility-Evidence from a Southern European City.” International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, MDPI, 15 Aug. 2017, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5580619/ .
Jennings, V., Johnson Gaither, C., & Gragg, R. S. (2012). Promoting Environmental Justice Through Urban Green Space Access: A Synopsis. Retrieved April 25, 2020.
Silva, C. de S. (2018, November 12). Environmental Justice in Accessibility to Green Infrastructure in Two European Cities. Retrieved April 24, 2020.
So, S. W. (2016, August). Urban Green Space Accessibility and Environmental Justice: A GIS-Based Analysis in the City of Phoenix, Arizona. Retrieved April 25, 2020.
Wolch, J. R., Byrne, J., & Newell, J. P. (2014, March 2). Urban green space, public health, and environmental justice: The challenge of making cities 'just green enough'. Retrieved April 25, 2020.