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Contrasting inequality in human exposure to greenspace between cities of Global North and Global South

Author

Listed:
  • Bin Chen

    (The University of Hong Kong
    The University of Hong Kong
    The University of Hong Kong)

  • Shengbiao Wu

    (The University of Hong Kong)

  • Yimeng Song

    (Yale University)

  • Chris Webster

    (The University of Hong Kong
    The University of Hong Kong
    The University of Hong Kong)

  • Bing Xu

    (Tsinghua University)

  • Peng Gong

    (The University of Hong Kong
    The University of Hong Kong)

Abstract

The United Nations specified the need for “providing universal access to greenspace for urban residents” in the 11th Sustainable Development Goal. Yet, how far we are from this goal remains unclear. Here, we develop a methodology incorporating fine-resolution population and greenspace mappings and use the results for 2020 to elucidate global differences in human exposure to greenspace. We identify a contrasting difference of greenspace exposure between Global South and North cities. Global South cities experience only one third of the greenspace exposure level of Global North cities. Greenspace exposure inequality (Gini: 0.47) in Global South cities is nearly twice that of Global North cities (Gini: 0.27). We quantify that 22% of the spatial disparity is associated with greenspace provision, and 53% is associated with joint effects of greenspace provision and spatial configuration. These findings highlight the need for prioritizing greening policies to mitigate environmental disparity and achieve sustainable development goals.

Suggested Citation

  • Bin Chen & Shengbiao Wu & Yimeng Song & Chris Webster & Bing Xu & Peng Gong, 2022. "Contrasting inequality in human exposure to greenspace between cities of Global North and Global South," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-9, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:13:y:2022:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-022-32258-4
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-32258-4
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    Cited by:

    1. Shengbiao Wu & Bin Chen & Chris Webster & Bing Xu & Peng Gong, 2023. "Improved human greenspace exposure equality during 21st century urbanization," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-11, December.
    2. Lilah M. Besser & Marcia Pescador Jimenez & Cameron J. Reimer & Oanh L. Meyer & Diana Mitsova & Kristen M. George & Paris B. Adkins-Jackson & James E. Galvin, 2023. "Diversity of Studies on Neighborhood Greenspace and Brain Health by Racialized/Ethnic Group and Geographic Region: A Rapid Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(9), pages 1-22, April.
    3. Minmeng Tang & Xinwei Li, 2024. "The Disparity of Greenness Accessibility across Major Metropolitan Areas in the United States from 2013 to 2022," Land, MDPI, vol. 13(8), pages 1-12, August.
    4. König, Christian & Salomo, Katja & Helbig, Marcel, 2024. "Understanding Variation in Neighbourhood Environmental Inequalities: The Influence of Residential Segregation, Gentrification, and other City-Level Factors," SocArXiv j4tf2, Center for Open Science.
    5. Kelei Li & Wenpeng Du & Zhiqi Yang & Huimin Yan & Yutong Mu, 2024. "Spatio-Temporal Pattern of Urban Green Space in Chengdu Urban Center under Rapid Urbanization: From the Policy-Oriented Perspective," Land, MDPI, vol. 13(4), pages 1-17, March.
    6. Yuxiang Li & Jens-Christian Svenning & Weiqi Zhou & Kai Zhu & Jesse F. Abrams & Timothy M. Lenton & William J. Ripple & Zhaowu Yu & Shuqing N. Teng & Robert R. Dunn & Chi Xu, 2024. "Green spaces provide substantial but unequal urban cooling globally," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-13, December.
    7. Yuanyuan Zhu & Rui Zhang & Jiaxing Cui, 2022. "Spatial Differentiation and Influencing Factors in the Ecological Well-Being Performance of Urban Agglomerations in the Middle Reaches of the Yangtze River: A Hierarchical Perspective," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(19), pages 1-22, October.

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