Equity in sustainable development: Community responses to environmental gentrification

Abstract

Sustainable development aims to address economic, social, and environmental imperatives; yet, in practice, it often embodies a neoliberal market logic that reinforces inequalities. Thus, as the social work profession grapples with its role in advancing environmental sustainability, practice models must explicitly attend to social and economic justice. For example, environmental gentrification refers to situations in which the cleanup of contaminated land or the installation of environmental amenities intentionally or unintentionally catalyzes increased housing costs, thereby contributing to the displacement of vulnerable residents. With the goal of contributing to practice knowledge, we conducted a systematic review of peer‐reviewed articles (1997−2017) to learn how community groups have responded to the threat of environmental gentrification. We found that community organizations employ a range of strategies, including blocking development, negotiating for protections, planning alternatives, and allying with gentrifiers. We conclude by exploring ethical implications and practice principles to help social workers engage in truly sustainable development. Key Practitioner Message: • The term environmental gentrification describes situations where improvements to environmental quality increase real estate prices, contributing to the displacement of vulnerable residents; • An environmental justice framework attending to procedural, distributional, and recognition‐based claims provides a model for social work practice; • Opportunities exist for social workers to take an intersectional rather than siloed approach to integrate economic, social, and environmental concerns.

Green Gentrification and Health: A Scoping Review

“…We imported records into EndNote (Clarivate Analytics, Beijing, China) for coding and management. Second, from the above searches, we identified five systematic reviews that focused on either gentrification and health [8][9][10]33] or ways to limit environmental gentrification [34]. Following the example of previous scoping reviews [29], we screened their references to identify additional relevant articles that met the inclusion criteria.…”

Environmental Justice Organizing in a Gentrifying Community: Navigating Dilemmas of Representation, Issue Selection, and Recruitment

“…We also found that although respondents agreed that gentrification and displacement are problems for some residents, most questioned the organization’s collective ability to prevent these problems or wondered whether prioritizing housing issues would dilute their mission. There are unquestionably limitations to the power of local organizing in a globalizing world (DeFilippis et al, 2010); however, siloing urban greening without also tending to development and affordable housing can contribute to environmental gentrification (Krings & Schusler, 2020; Rigolon & Németh, 2018). By focusing on the natural environment and neglecting Pilsen’s affordable housing issue, PERRO may align more closely with the philosophy of environmentalism, rather than an environmental justice logic that integrates a holistic understanding of what it means to live in a healthy community (Pezzullo & Sandler, 2007).…”

“…Second, community practitioners should use an intersectional rather than siloed approach to issue selection (Krings & Schusler, 2020). This is particularly important because organizations that improve the natural or built environment of a neighborhood also risk contributing to gentrification and displacement of people intended to benefit from their efforts, thus increasing segregation and inequality (Dale & Newman, 2009).…”

Environmental Justice and Black Lives Matter: Critical Reflection and Advocacy for Social Work in the United States

“…28 Krings and Schusler define environmental gentrification as ''situations where improvements to environmental quality increase real estate prices, contributing to the displacement of vulnerable residents.'' 29 Consequently, environmental gentrification can occur when Brownfields are cleaned up or when gardens and parks are established in urban areas. 30 Amorim Maia et al add that in addition to displacement, the most economically vulnerable, who are often those impacted, also may find themselves segregated from access to the benefits of green development.…”

“…29 Consequently, environmental gentrification can occur when Brownfields are cleaned up or when gardens and parks are established in urban areas. 30 Amorim Maia et al add that in addition to displacement, the most economically vulnerable, who are often those impacted, also may find themselves segregated from access to the benefits of green development. 31 Checker goes on to say that environmental gentrification is the result of the ''convergence of urban redevelopment, ecologically minded initiatives and environmental justice activism in an era of advanced capitalism.''…”