Sammanfattning

Urban green space governs important ecosystem services including providing health promoting facilities. However, unequal distribution of green space among socio-demographic and socio-economic groups may create environmental injustice among inhabitants and between neighborhoods. This paper reports on access to different types of green space for residents in four Nordic cities. More precisely it explores relationships between socio-demographic and socio-economic characteristics and access to green space at the neighbourhood level. We selected the following green space variables: distance between inhabitants' dwellings and parks, forest, and cemeteries; percentages and area per inhabitant of parks, forest, and cemeteries; and vegetation cover derived from satellite images and Urban Atlas. These were linked to income, education, age, and percentage of the population born outside their country of residence at a neighbourhood level. The results show that inhabitants in the four Nordic cities have great access to green space, but the percentage of different types of green space, such as forest and parks, varies between the cities and within the cities. We found that most inhabitants have less than 300 m to the nearest green space ranging from 92% in Stavanger (Norway) to 99.2% in Ta center dot by (Sweden). We also found differences in access depending on inhabitants' age, education, immigration status, and median income. Espoo (Finland) had the highest total green space coverage (45.3%), while Ta center dot by had the highest proportion of park coverage (2.3%). By compensating with green spaces in less affluent areas, and focusing on equal access to green space, planners can contribute to reduce health inequalities in the population.

Nyckelord

Urban green spaces; Vegetation cover; Socio-demography; Environmental Justice; Geographic information systems

Publicerad i

Urban Forestry and Urban Greening
2023, Volym: 82, artikelnummer: 127894
Utgivare: ELSEVIER GMBH

SLU författare

• Nordh, Helena

  • Institutionen för stad och land, Sveriges lantbruksuniversitet
    

Associerade SLU-program

Naturupplevelser och hälsa


Globala målen

SDG11 Göra städer och bosättningar inkluderande, säkra, motståndskraftiga och hållbara
SDG8 Verka för varaktig, inkluderande och hållbar ekonomisk tillväxt, full och produktiv sysselsättning med anständiga arbetsvillkor för alla
SDG10 Minska ojämlikheten inom och mellan länder


UKÄ forskningsämne

Kulturgeografi
Landskapsarkitetktur


Publikationens identifierare

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ufug.2023.127894

Permanent länk till denna sida (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/121919