Is green infrastructure fair? How can it be developed in a way that ensures equity rather than perpetuates the profound injustices that are in the foundation of most urban areas? Those were some of the questions discussed at the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies event on the fairness of green infrastructure, where three panelists, including Tishman Center’s Affiliated Faculty and Director of Urban Systems Lab, Timon McPhearson, provided their takes on the biggest challenges and promises of equitable green infrastructure.

McPhearson noted that green infrastructure can be defined very differently depending on the city: generally its framing is about absorbing stormwater but broadly it is about all the “green stuff” - wetlands, forests, parks. Green infrastructure is so attractive due to its multifunctionality and ability to provide different kinds of services at the same time. It is a response to the overwhelming amount of Grey Infrastructure that cities are associated with and a way to bring ecosystems into the conversation of what provides services to the city. Green infrastructure has gained a lot of traction over the past ten years with cities all around the world investing billions of dollars in it. But while it can be a flexible and adaptable solution space for policymakers, and even provide long-term savings, for many communities it also brings up fears of gentrification and displacement, which are currently not properly addressed in the majority of green infrastructure plans.

Dr. Steward Pickett, a founder of the field of urban ecology and Distinguished Senior Scientist at Cary Institute, pointed out that the United States is deeply designed to facilitate certain people's success on the backs of other people, which is not just the country’s history but is still very much its reality. Legacy of redlining still lives on in US cities and is an indicator of how pervasive various environmental and infrastructural risks and disadvantages are depending on the neighborhood. So, just adding the desire to “make things green” on top of the system we already have will only multiply the inequities, and green infrastructure is already enforcing the status quo in many cities. Kristin Baja, Climate Resilience Director for the Urban Sustainability Directors Network, reinforced that point by saying that if there is a serious intention of incorporating justice into green infrastructure, it is important to look back at history and profoundly rethink resource distribution and understand what processes are necessary for meaningful corrective action.

Federal funding still prioritizes grey infrastructure, which is why green infrastructure rarely has money built in for maintenance nor into communications on what its purpose and benefits are. Thus, particularly in lower income neighborhoods, it can become a major burden on already constrained resources. Moreover, creating unfunded mandates around green infrastructure in these neighborhoods only creates injustice.

Panelists stressed that there is a major missed opportunity in actually co-designing with community members where green infrastructure is to be developed in its creation. However, an important point to note here, in regards to equity and respect, is ensuring that those community members are actually paid for their work rather than expected to contribute their time as volunteers. Moreover, building trust and relationships takes time, which creates tension between the argument to roll out green infrastructure quickly and the need to take time to implement equity measures as we are already behind on implementing climate adaptation and mitigation measures.

Ultimately, right now equity concerns are not central to the way green infrastructure is designed and developed and major shifts in power and process are necessary for it to achieve just outcomes. Timon McPhearson concluded by saying that a fundamental transformation of governance is necessary in order for green infrastructure to be democratically co-produced and co-designed. In order for green infrastructure to not continue amplifying the inequities of urban environments, it should be promoted along with housing justice policies, among other urban equity measures.

Watch the talk below:

Is Green Infrastructure Fair?