Reframing Urban Nature-Based Solutions Through Perspectives of Environmental Justice and Privilege

Abstract

Since its introduction, the concept of “nature-based solutions” has gained much attention, drawing public funds and private investments. Nature-based solutions conceptualise the use of nature in planning as a cost-efficient and sustainable means to address societal, economic, and ecological challenges. However, this “triple win” premise tends to conceal potentially resulting injustices, such as displacement through green gentrification. While these injustices have attracted the attention of environmental justice scholars, as exemplified by the “just green enough” approach, links to the “nature-based solutions” concept are mostly implicit. Further, the concept of environmental privilege, questioning who benefits from created natural amenities, has rarely been taken up. This article, therefore, argues that environmental justice should be linked closely to nature-based solutions. Supported by a theoretical perspective, the article aims at exploring who benefits from, and who loses out on, urban nature-based solutions processes. It builds on a qualitative literature review of the scholarly landscape on environmental justice and urban greening while linking to nature-based solutions, adding perspectives of environmental privilege. In this, it attempts to offer three important contributions to the current academic discussion. First, the article provides an overview of the debate on urban greening, (in)justice, and environmental privilege. Second, it relates the concept of nature-based solutions to the debate on environmental justice, opening nature-based solutions up for critique and conceptual refinements. Third, it outlines a way forward for reframing nature-based solutions through the lens of environmental justice and privilege. Thus, this article provides a starting point for further discussions on the implementation of just nature-based solutions in cities.

Social Exclusion in the Development of Photovoltaics: The Perspective of Fishers in the HU Township

“…Considering the disproportionate effects of land-use changes on specific communities, understanding their environmental justice repercussions is crucial. Studies highlight the link between access to urban green spaces and environmental justice (Bauer, 2023;Jennings et al, 2012). Moreover, there are contradictions between large-scale spatial change and community-scale social justice (da Silva & Correia, 2022;Goh, 2020).…”

Setting the Stage for Decision-Making on Nature-Based Solutions for Coastal Climate Adaptation

“…The political stage is the focal point where just outcomes are created (Rawls, 2009). Researchers can recognize where these choices are made, and aim to fairly include relevant stakeholder perspectives and interests (e.g., Bauer, 2022;Cousins, 2021;Hagedoorn et al, 2021). Moreover, researchers and decision-makers can assess how these views are translated into further stages of project execution, management and evaluation.…”

The Comprehensive Management Zoning of Mountains, Rivers, Forests, and Farmlands Based on Element Recognition

“…[5] Subsequently, at the 2016 World Conservation Congress, nature-based solutions were further defined as "actions to protect, sustainably manage, and restore natural or modified ecosystems, which address societal challenges effectively and adaptively, while simultaneously providing human well-being and biodiversity benefits [6]". In essence, nature-based solutions emphasize the use of natural, ecosystem-based approaches [7,8] to restore and transform nature to achieve sustainable utilization of ecological resources [9]. Since its inception, this concept has been widely applied in various aspects, such as the development of the ecological industry [10][11][12], ecological conservation and restoration [13][14][15], and urban environmental planning [7,16,17].…”

“…In essence, nature-based solutions emphasize the use of natural, ecosystem-based approaches [7,8] to restore and transform nature to achieve sustainable utilization of ecological resources [9]. Since its inception, this concept has been widely applied in various aspects, such as the development of the ecological industry [10][11][12], ecological conservation and restoration [13][14][15], and urban environmental planning [7,16,17]. It is similar to the mountains, rivers, forests, farmlands, lakes, grasslands, and sands in terms of goals, emphasizing the need to balance nature, society, and economy to achieve sustainable development of humanity.…”