Green space accessibility in Europe: a comparative study of five major cities
Megan Buckland, Dorina Pojani
Abstract
In the current era of climate breakdown, access to green space is not optional – it is vital. This study investigates the current disparities in urban green space access in five medium-sized European cities: Birmingham, Brussels, Milan, Prague and Stockholm. Through a GIS-based network analysis, we explore whether disparities in urban green space access (1) relate to income inequalities within cities and/or (2) are based on a city’s regional location within Europe. We find that Prague presents the highest green space accessibility, followed by Stockholm, Brussels, Birmingham, and finally Milan. Higher-income residents have more access to green space in Brussels, Milan, Prague, and Stockholm. In Birmingham, however, lower-income neighbourhoods presented higher green accessibility. Urban green spaces were distributed differently across the various European regions, each of which has a unique history and planning culture. Urban planners are challenged to redress these disparities – while considering the unique environmental, economic, social, and cultural dimensions of each place.