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Green Infrastructure Solutions to Health Impacts of Climate Change: Perspectives of Affected Residents in Detroit, Michigan, USA

Author

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  • Christine Carmichael

    (Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources, Gund Institute for Environment, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT 05405, USA)

  • Cecilia Danks

    (Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources, Gund Institute for Environment, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT 05405, USA)

  • Christine Vatovec

    (Larner College of Medicine, Gund Institute for Environment, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT 05405, USA)

Abstract

Cities worldwide are incorporating green infrastructure to mitigate climate change and achieve health cobenefits. However, green infrastructure projects are often distributed inequitably based on race and class. Residents’ perspectives are necessary to develop and enact effective and equitable ‘green’ strategies to address climate change and its health impacts. This study reports findings from interviews and ethnographic observations with diverse residents of Detroit, Michigan, USA, who have experience with both green infrastructure projects and intense weather events (flooding). Residents expressed widespread support for green infrastructure solutions, while also sharing concerns about unintended health consequences from unsatisfactory governance of green spaces and climate change itself. Residents also held differing perspectives regarding their responsibility for, and capacity to enact, these solutions compared to businesses, city government, and nonprofit organizations. These findings illuminate key factors that city governments and partnering institutions should incorporate into planning processes with residents to achieve greater environmental justice through green infrastructure strategies to mitigate climate change and related health impacts.

Suggested Citation

  • Christine Carmichael & Cecilia Danks & Christine Vatovec, 2019. "Green Infrastructure Solutions to Health Impacts of Climate Change: Perspectives of Affected Residents in Detroit, Michigan, USA," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(20), pages 1-15, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:11:y:2019:i:20:p:5688-:d:276631
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    2. Patricia Schwartz & Adriana A. Zuniga-Teran & Francisco Lara-Valencia & Hilda García-Pérez & Gabriel Díaz Montemayor & Claudia Gil Anaya & Joaquin Marruffo & Oscar A. Rodriguez Ponce & Zoe Holtzman, 2023. "Pathways to Greening Border Cities: A Policy Analysis for Green Infrastructure in Ambos Nogales," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(4), pages 1-21, March.
    3. Lucero Radonic & Adriana Zuniga-Teran, 2023. "When Governing Urban Waters Differently: Five Tenets for Socio-Environmental Justice in Urban Climate Adaptation Interventions," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(2), pages 1-19, January.
    4. Alisha Yee Chan & Ji-Young Son & Michelle Lee Bell, 2021. "Displacement of Racially and Ethnically Minoritized Groups after the Installation of Stormwater Control Measures (i.e., Green Infrastructure): A Case Study of Washington, DC," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(19), pages 1-15, September.

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