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Urban green boosterism and city affordability: For whom is the ‘branded’ green city?

Author

Listed:
  • Melissa Garcia-Lamarca

    (Autonomous University of Barcelona, Spain)

  • Isabelle Anguelovski

    (Autonomous University of Barcelona, Spain)

  • Helen Cole

    (Autonomous University of Barcelona, Spain)

  • James JT Connolly

    (Autonomous University of Barcelona, Spain)

  • Lucía Argüelles

    (Autonomous University of Barcelona, Spain)

  • Francesc Baró

    (Autonomous University of Barcelona, Spain)

  • Stephanie Loveless

    (Autonomous University of Barcelona, Spain)

  • Carmen Pérez del Pulgar Frowein

    (Autonomous University of Barcelona, Spain)

  • Galia Shokry

    (Autonomous University of Barcelona, Spain)

Abstract

Increasingly, greening in cities across the Global North is enmeshed in strategies for attracting capital investment, raising the question: for whom is the future green city? Through exploring the relationship between cities’ green boosterist rhetoric, affordability and social equity considerations within greening programmes, this paper examines the extent to which, and why, the degree of green branding – that is, urban green boosterism – predicts the variation in city affordability. We present the results of a mixed methods, macroscale analysis of the greening trajectories of 99 cities in Western Europe, the USA and Canada. Our regression analysis of green rhetoric shows a trend toward higher cost of living among cities with the longest duration and highest intensity green rhetoric. We then use qualitative findings from Nantes, France, and Austin, USA, as two cases to unpack why green boosterism correlates with lower affordability. Key factors determining the relation between urban greening and affordability include the extent of active municipal intervention, redistributional considerations and the historic importance of inclusion and equity in urban development. We conclude by considering what our results mean for the urban greening agenda in the context of an ongoing green growth imperative going forward.

Suggested Citation

  • Melissa Garcia-Lamarca & Isabelle Anguelovski & Helen Cole & James JT Connolly & Lucía Argüelles & Francesc Baró & Stephanie Loveless & Carmen Pérez del Pulgar Frowein & Galia Shokry, 2021. "Urban green boosterism and city affordability: For whom is the ‘branded’ green city?," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 58(1), pages 90-112, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:urbstu:v:58:y:2021:i:1:p:90-112
    DOI: 10.1177/0042098019885330
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Alessandro Rigolon & Timothy Collins, 2023. "The green gentrification cycle," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 60(4), pages 770-785, March.
    2. Triguero-Mas, Margarita & Anguelovski, Isabelle & García-Lamarca, Melissa & Argüelles, Lucía & Perez-del-Pulgar, Carmen & Shokry, Galia & Connolly, James J.T. & Cole, Helen V.S., 2021. "Natural outdoor environments’ health effects in gentrifying neighborhoods: Disruptive green landscapes for underprivileged neighborhood residents," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 279(C).
    3. Giuseppe Salvia & Irene Pluchinotta & Ioanna Tsoulou & Gemma Moore & Nici Zimmermann, 2022. "Understanding Urban Green Space Usage through Systems Thinking: A Case Study in Thamesmead, London," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(5), pages 1-24, February.
    4. Adrian Robert Bazbauers, 2022. "Translating climate strategies into action: An analysis of the sustainable, green, and resilient city action plans of the multilateral development banks," Development Policy Review, Overseas Development Institute, vol. 40(2), March.
    5. Cole, Helen V.S. & Anguelovski, Isabelle & Connolly, James J.T. & García-Lamarca, Melissa & Perez-del-Pulgar, Carmen & Shokry, Galia & Triguero-Mas, Margarita, 2021. "Adapting the environmental risk transition theory for urban health inequities: An observational study examining complex environmental riskscapes in seven neighborhoods in Global North cities," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 277(C).
    6. Vera Götze & Josje Anna Bouwmeester & Mathias Jehling, 2024. "For whom do we densify? Explaining income variation across densification projects in the region of Utrecht, the Netherlands," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 61(7), pages 1273-1290, May.
    7. Leon Wansleben & Nils Neumann, 2024. "Entrepreneurs beyond neoliberalism: Municipally owned corporations and climate change mitigation in German cities," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 61(5), pages 799-820, April.

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