IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v17y2025i10p4561-d1657377.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Assessment of Urban Green Space Equity in Beijing’s Central Urban Villages: A Remote Sensing Perspective on Environmental Justice

Author

Listed:
  • Qin Li

    (School of Landscape Architecture, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China)

  • Wei Duan

    (School of Landscape Architecture, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China)

  • Yutong Chen

    (School of Landscape Architecture, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China)

  • Mengxiang Ma

    (School of Landscape Architecture, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China)

  • Xiaodong Zheng

    (School of Landscape Architecture, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China)

Abstract

Urban green space (GS) equity is crucial to achieving environmental justice. From the environmental justice perspective, this study focuses on the equity of GS in residential areas of urban disadvantaged groups, quantitatively assessing and comparing the fairness of GS usage between urban villages (UVs) and formal residential quarters (RQs). Using data on green space area, NDVI, and FVC, this study analyzes GS conditions across different buffer distances within the central urban area of Beijing. Statistical methods, including the Theil index, were employed to evaluate the equity of per capita green space, vegetation coverage, and vegetation conditions. Our findings reveal distinct spatial distribution patterns of internal and external GS characteristics between UVs and RQs. Additionally, while the internal GS equity in UVs is generally lower than in RQs, FVC equity demonstrates the opposite trend. Finally, intra-group inequity in both UVs and RQs is the dominant factor contributing to overall GS disparities in residential areas. This study establishes a comprehensive evaluation framework for analyzing GS availability, NDVI, and FVC equity in two types of residential communities. It provides a valuable reference for subsequent GS equity assessments and offers actionable recommendations for policymakers to prioritize improving GS equity in certain residential areas. By addressing gaps in environmental justice theory regarding urban GS, this study proposes a pragmatic and effective approach to enhancing GS equity in large, rapidly developing cities.

Suggested Citation

  • Qin Li & Wei Duan & Yutong Chen & Mengxiang Ma & Xiaodong Zheng, 2025. "Assessment of Urban Green Space Equity in Beijing’s Central Urban Villages: A Remote Sensing Perspective on Environmental Justice," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(10), pages 1-18, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:10:p:4561-:d:1657377
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/10/4561/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/10/4561/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Joan A. Casey & Peter James & Lara Cushing & Bill M. Jesdale & Rachel Morello-Frosch, 2017. "Race, Ethnicity, Income Concentration and 10-Year Change in Urban Greenness in the United States," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(12), pages 1-15, December.
    2. Venter, Zander & Barton, David & gundersen, vegard & Figari, Helene & Nowell, Megan, 2020. "Urban nature in a time of crisis: recreational use of green space increases during the COVID-19 outbreak in Oslo, Norway," SocArXiv kbdum, Center for Open Science.
    3. Frank A. Cowell, 1980. "On the Structure of Additive Inequality Measures," The Review of Economic Studies, Review of Economic Studies Ltd, vol. 47(3), pages 521-531.
    4. repec:osf:socarx:kbdum_v1 is not listed on IDEAS
    5. Matthew Browning & Kangjae Lee, 2017. "Within What Distance Does “Greenness” Best Predict Physical Health? A Systematic Review of Articles with GIS Buffer Analyses across the Lifespan," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(7), pages 1-21, June.
    6. Mitchell, Richard, 2013. "Is physical activity in natural environments better for mental health than physical activity in other environments?," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 91(C), pages 130-134.
    7. Peihao Song & Gunwoo Kim & Audrey Mayer & Ruizhen He & Guohang Tian, 2020. "Assessing the Ecosystem Services of Various Types of Urban Green Spaces Based on i-Tree Eco," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(4), pages 1-16, February.
    8. Viniece Jennings & Lincoln Larson & Jessica Yun, 2016. "Advancing Sustainability through Urban Green Space: Cultural Ecosystem Services, Equity, and Social Determinants of Health," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 13(2), pages 1-15, February.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Demsachew Guadie & Tsegaye Getahun & Kalkidan Asnake & Sebsebe Demissew, 2022. "Multifunctional Urban Green Infrastructure Development in a Sub-Saharan Country: The Case of Friendship Square Park, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(19), pages 1-21, October.
    2. Yi-Ya Hsu & Zih-Hong Lin & Chong-En Li, 2023. "Realising the Sustainable Development Goal 11.7 in the post-pandemic era – A case study of Taiwan," Environment and Planning B, , vol. 50(1), pages 162-181, January.
    3. Shruti Ashish Lahoti & Shalini Dhyani & Osamu Saito, 2024. "Exploring the Factors Shaping Urban Greenspace Interactions: A Case Study of Nagpur, India," Land, MDPI, vol. 13(10), pages 1-16, September.
    4. J. C. Kitch & T. T. Nguyen & Q. C. Nguyen & Y. Hswen, 2023. "Changes in the relationship between Index of Concentration at the Extremes and U.S. urban greenspace: a longitudinal analysis from 2001–2019," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 10(1), pages 1-10, December.
    5. Stefania Toselli & Laura Bragonzoni & Laura Dallolio & Alessia Grigoletto & Alice Masini & Sofia Marini & Giuseppe Barone & Erika Pinelli & Raffaele Zinno & Mario Mauro & Gerardo Astorino & Pietro Lor, 2022. "The Effects of Park Based Interventions on Health: The Italian Project “Moving Parks”," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(4), pages 1-14, February.
    6. Moreno, Roberto & Nery, André & Zamora, Ricardo & Lora, Ángel & Galán, Carmen, 2024. "Contribution of urban trees to carbon sequestration and reduction of air pollutants in Lima, Peru," Ecosystem Services, Elsevier, vol. 67(C).
    7. Liyixuan Fan & Jingmao Wang & Du Han & Jie Gao & Yingyu Yao, 2022. "Research on Promoting Carbon Sequestration of Urban Green Space Distribution Characteristics and Planting Design Models in Xi’an," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(1), pages 1-16, December.
    8. Oihana Aristondo & Casilda Lasso De La Vega & Ana Urrutia, 2010. "A New Multiplicative Decomposition For The Foster–Greer–Thorbecke Poverty Indices," Bulletin of Economic Research, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 62(3), pages 259-267, July.
    9. Alvaredo, Facundo & Bourguignon, François & Ferreira, Francisco H. G. & Lustig, Nora, 2023. "Seventy-five Years of Measuring Income Inequality in Latin America," IDB Publications (Working Papers) 13157, Inter-American Development Bank.
    10. Nabetse Baruc Blas-Miranda & Ana Lilia Lozada-Tequeanes & Juan Antonio Miranda-Zuñiga & Marcia P. Jimenez, 2022. "Green Space Exposure and Obesity in the Mexican Adult Population," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(22), pages 1-13, November.
    11. Casilda Lasso de la Vega & Ana Urrutia & Oscar Volij, 2011. "An Axiomatic Characterization Of The Theil Inequality Order," Working Papers 1103, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Department of Economics.
    12. S. Brent Jackson & Kathryn T. Stevenson & Lincoln R. Larson & M. Nils Peterson & Erin Seekamp, 2021. "Outdoor Activity Participation Improves Adolescents’ Mental Health and Well-Being during the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(5), pages 1-18, March.
    13. Hao-Ting Chang & Chih-Da Wu & Wen-Chi Pan & Shih-Chun Candice Lung & Huey-Jen Su, 2019. "Association Between Surrounding Greenness and Schizophrenia: A Taiwanese Cohort Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(8), pages 1-16, April.
    14. Lopez-Acevedo, Gladys & Salinas, Angel, 2000. "How Mexico's financial crisis affected income distribution," Policy Research Working Paper Series 2406, The World Bank.
    15. Tugce, Cuhadaroglu, 2013. "My Group Beats Your Group: Evaluating Non-Income Inequalities," SIRE Discussion Papers 2013-49, Scottish Institute for Research in Economics (SIRE).
    16. Bruno Marques & Jacqueline McIntosh & Chitrakala Muthuveerappan & Krzysztof Herman, 2022. "The Importance of Outdoor Spaces during the COVID-19 Lockdown in Aotearoa—New Zealand," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(12), pages 1-17, June.
    17. Maria Cubel & Peter Lambert, 2002. "Progression-neutral income tax reforms and horizontal inequity," Journal of Economics, Springer, vol. 77(1), pages 1-8, December.
    18. Bart Capéau & André Decoster & Bram De Rock & Jonas Vanderkelen, 2024. "Did Belgium withstand the storm of rising inequalities? Income inequality in Belgium, 1985–2020," Fiscal Studies, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 45(3), pages 285-308, September.
    19. Hui, Ling Chui & Jim, C.Y., 2022. "Urban-greenery demands are affected by perceptions of ecosystem services and disservices, and socio-demographic and environmental-cultural factors," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 120(C).
    20. Mohamed Fomba & Zinash Delebo Osunde & Souleymane Sidi Traoré & Appollonia Okhimamhe & Janina Kleemann & Christine Fürst, 2024. "Urban Green Spaces in Bamako and Sikasso, Mali: Land Use Changes and Perceptions," Land, MDPI, vol. 13(1), pages 1-20, January.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:10:p:4561-:d:1657377. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.