Climate Change Adaptation in Marginalized Neighbourhoods
Translated title
Klimatilpasning i udsatte kvarterer
Author
Kjær, Helene Lindskov
Term
4. semester
Publication year
2015
Submitted on
2015-06-10
Pages
70
Abstract
Miljømæssige goder (som parker og adgang til vand) og byrder (som brownfields – tidligere forurenede industriområder) er ujævnt fordelt både mellem og inden for lande. I byer rammes fattigere kvarterer ofte af flere miljøproblemer og har færre goder end rigere kvarterer. Når man forsøger at rette denne uretfærdighed, kan det samtidig presse huslejer op og føre til gentrificering. Klimaforandringer kræver, at byer tilpasser sig, men vi ved stadig relativt lidt om de sociale konsekvenser af klimatilpasning i byer. Denne afhandling undersøger, gennem et casestudie af Skt. Kjelds kvarter i København, hvordan klimatilpasningsprojekter forandrer bykvarterer, og om de mindsker eller forværrer social og miljømæssig ulighed. Resultaterne viser, at et skift i fokus fra områdefornyelse (indsatser for at forbedre bolig- og levevilkår) til klimatilpasning fik konsekvenser for socialt udsatte beboere – den gruppe, som områdefornyelsen oprindeligt var rettet mod. Planlægningen retter sig nu mod den brede beboergruppe og mod at tiltrække den kreative klasse, mens de socialt udsatte ikke er specifikt prioriteret. For denne gruppe er både miljømæssig og social ulighed steget. Nye grønne byrum indebærer også en reel risiko for gentrificering, men mange projekter er stadig undervejs, så de fulde konsekvenser er endnu uklare.
Environmental benefits (such as parks and waterfronts) and burdens (such as brownfields—previously contaminated industrial sites) are unevenly distributed both between and within countries. In cities, poorer neighborhoods often face more hazards and have fewer amenities than wealthier ones. Efforts to address this injustice can also raise rents and trigger gentrification. Cities must adapt to climate change, yet we know relatively little about the social consequences of urban climate adaptation. This thesis uses a case study of the Skt. Kjeld's neighborhood in Copenhagen to examine how adaptation projects reshape neighborhoods and whether they reduce or create social and environmental inequities. The findings show that shifting the focus from urban regeneration (programs to improve living conditions) to climate adaptation had consequences for socially vulnerable residents—the very group that motivated the regeneration in the first place. Planning now targets the broad majority of residents and aims to attract the creative class, while vulnerable residents are not specifically prioritized. As a result, both environmental and social inequity for this group has increased. New green spaces also pose a real risk of gentrification, but many projects are still underway, so the full consequences are not yet clear.
[This abstract was generated with the help of AI]
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