Green Gentrification and Health: A Scoping Review

Abstract

Urban greening initiatives are often linked to enhanced human health and wellbeing, but they can also be a driver of gentrification. To date, few studies have focused on how green gentrification shapes health. In this scoping review, we analyzed existing peer-reviewed research on how greening initiatives in gentrifying neighborhoods impact health, well-being, and health pathways (e.g., physical activity, affordable housing). Using a multi-step approach to scoping the literature (including searches in PubMed, JSTOR, and Google Scholar), we identified 15 empirical studies that met our inclusion criteria. We found studies focusing on green space use, physical activity, sense of community, safety, and self-reported health. Overall, longtime, marginalized residents are negatively impacted by green gentrification as they experience a lower sense of community, feel that they do not belong in green space, and, in many studies, use green space less often than newcomers. Overall, the research in this area is limited, and more studies on mental health and cardiovascular health markers could advance this literature. Based on the limited available evidence, we suggest that public health, urban planning, and parks professionals could collaborate to enhance the use of green space for marginalized residents and their feelings of inclusion in gentrifying areas.

Time Spent in Nature Is Associated with Increased Pro-Environmental Attitudes and Behaviors

“…For example, an influential study examining African American park visitors’ various outdoor experiences argued that a history of slavery and racial violence has shaped cultural attitudes towards the "great outdoors" and has determined who should and can have access to natural spaces (e.g., national parks) [ 99 ]. Research exploring the cultural and historical foundations of continued nonuse of nature [ 100 ], the imperatives of nature equity [ 101 ], and the need for environmental education shaped by diverse racial perspectives [ 102 ] derives from this foundational work. More inclusive assessment studies based on cultural historicity, community values, and urban and rural land uses could elucidate potential modifying roles of race and ethnicity on the relationship between nature exposure and PEAB.…”

Green infrastructure can limit but not solve air pollution injustice

“…First of all, environmental justice calls for the involvement of diverse residents in environmental decision making. With concerns that urban green space development may lead to population displacement (i.e., green gentrification) 39,40 and strains to public health 41 , re-engaging community members and professionals in this arena is imperative. Surface level involvement of local communities is not sufficient to mitigate such effects 25 .…”

“…While we acknowledge the importance of equal access to green infrastructure, it is crucial to ensure that related professionals uphold ethical practices and dismantle further marginalization. Many organizations have standards related to justice and fair treatment of all people in their mission 41,42 , but the actual implementation of these standards in green infrastructure projects needs to be evaluated. A code of ethics is shortsighted without objective oversight in place to verify that it is being practiced.…”

Greening and Just Cities: Elements for Fostering a South–North Dialogue Based on a Systematic Literature Review

“…It follows that a more critical appraisal of GI and NbS approaches is required, toward a broader appropriation of place-based knowledge and subjectivities throughout a project's deployment (Woroniecki et al, 2020). For example, it would include the views and demands of traditional indigenous communities and so-called first nations (Lyons et al, 2017;Jelks et al, 2021), as well as community strategies to resist agendas that not favor disadvantages groups (Apostolopoulou and Kotsila, 2021). Anguelovski et al (2019) uses the case of Medellin to show how a large GI project is promoted by the municipality through a top-down approach focusing on control and rationalization of green spaces for use by privileged social segments and tourists; this leads to a conflicting notion of nature with those of local communities, as it neglects the community's existing forms of relationship with nature and local practices (e.g., urban farming practices).…”