It's Not Easy Being Green: Access to Sustainable Urban Amenities and Distributive Justice in Low-Income and Minority Communities (2016)

Undergraduate: Jules Carter

Faculty Advisor: Kenneth Andrews
Department: Sociology

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In urban environments, low-income and minority-concentrated neighborhoods are more likely to be exposed to risk and vulnerability associated with environmental degradation. This project is a comparative analysis of several neighborhoods across various metrics relating to access to and perceptions of sustanable infrastrucutre, as well as an assessment of risk exposure and vulnerability. Historically, low-income and minority-concentrated residential areas have also had higher exposure to anthropogenic environmental hazards resulting from industrial, governmental, and commercial operations in their vicinity. Often, the positive externalities of sustainable urban infrastructure are disproportionately consumed by predominately non-Hispanic white neighborhoods with moderate to high median incomes. These residents are also typically more likely to have the discretionary income required to construct and maintain property-specific green infrastructure. Access to green spaces, canopy cover, and stormwater management structures have been found to improve urban air quality, water quality, mitigate flood risks, enhance aesthetics, and elevate the overall health and safety of urban residents.