A review of environmental gentrification ills and the “just green enough” approach: on achieving justice, sustainability, and equity

Reed-Thryselius, S. (2023). “A Review of Environmental Gentrification Ills and the “Just Green Enough” Approach: on Achieving Justice, Sustainability, and Equity.” International Journal of Community Well-Being. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42413-023-00195-9

Abstract: Access to and improvement of green space is argued to be an issue of environmental justice (EJ), sustainability, and equity since it is associated with numerous health benefits and overall well-being. Greening efforts, however, may unintentionally result in gentrification. Known as environmental, ecological, or green gentrification, the process results in the in-migration of higher-income residents and the removal of original residents through physical displacement (direct), from increased taxes or rent, or social displacement (indirect), from reduced feelings of community, place, or social belonging due to the changing socio-cultural environment. Spatial characteristics such as location, function, type, originality, accessibility, place-based values, and size may be predictive of environmental gentrification. Despite the complexity of this phenomenon, employing a “just green enough” approach may prevent or mitigate gentrification effects as it emphasizes collaboration and equitable representation in greening process decisions, protective strategies, and small-scale redevelopments. While the purpose of a “just green enough” approach is to combat gentrification effects, current gentrification measures often use changing economic conditions as a proxy, which is suitable for physical displacement but may underestimate the effects of social displacement. A review of the literature shows that although the understanding to integrate EJ and sustainability principles to achieve equity is increasing, future studies must reconceptualize how to distinctly measure displacement experiences, understand how the impact of these experiences varies by social identity and the intersectionality of identities, and how to effectively engage community members in the planning process before the concepts can be truly integrated into practice.