IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v17y2025i5p2217-d1604899.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Transformation and Inequity of Urban Green Space in Guangzhou: Drivers and Policy Implications Under Rapid Urbanization

Author

Listed:
  • Zhiwen Duan

    (College of Resources and Environment, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
    Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Land Use and Consolidation, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China)

  • Longbao Huang

    (College of Resources and Environment, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
    Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Land Use and Consolidation, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China)

  • Zhicai Zhu

    (College of Resources and Environment, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
    Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Land Use and Consolidation, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China)

  • Shaoqiu Long

    (College of Resources and Environment, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
    Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Land Use and Consolidation, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China)

  • Yilun Liu

    (Key Laboratory of the Ministry of Natural Resources for Natural Resources Monitoring in Tropical Subtropics of South China, School of Public Administration, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China)

Abstract

Urban green space (UGS) is crucial for urban sustainability, yet equity in access to urban green space remains a global challenge amidst rapid urbanization. Guangzhou, a megacity in China’s Pearl River Delta, exemplifies this challenge, with its population increasing from 5.9 million in 1990 to 18.7 million in 2020, leading to intensified land use conflicts. This study analyzes the changes in urban green space across three strategic zones—Old Guangzhou, New Guangzhou, and Future Guangzhou—compared to other areas, and equity over time using land use transfer matrices, landscape indices, hotspot analysis, and the Gini coefficient. It also explores the driving factors behind these changes. The results show a 16% decline in total UGS area from 1990 to 2020, with fragmentation peaking between 2000 and 2010, as indicated by a 24% increase in patch density and an 18% decrease in connectivity; growing spatial inequity, with the overall Gini coefficient rising over time—Old Guangzhou exhibited severe inequality (0.806) due to the scarcity of community-level urban green space, while Future Guangzhou demonstrated a relatively balanced distribution (0.523); and a shift in policy focus from basic greening to ecological prioritization after 2010, which slowed UGS loss but failed to address the disparities between core and peripheral areas. These findings are significant not only for Guangzhou but also reflect broader global issues faced by urban areas undergoing rapid urbanization. This study provides a comprehensive framework for balancing urban growth with equity, offering valuable insights for rapidly urbanizing regions worldwide.

Suggested Citation

  • Zhiwen Duan & Longbao Huang & Zhicai Zhu & Shaoqiu Long & Yilun Liu, 2025. "Transformation and Inequity of Urban Green Space in Guangzhou: Drivers and Policy Implications Under Rapid Urbanization," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(5), pages 1-23, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:5:p:2217-:d:1604899
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/5/2217/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/5/2217/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Hartmann, Dominik & Guevara, Miguel R. & Jara-Figueroa, Cristian & Aristarán, Manuel & Hidalgo, César A., 2017. "Linking Economic Complexity, Institutions, and Income Inequality," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 93(C), pages 75-93.
    2. Gabriele Manoli & Simone Fatichi & Markus Schläpfer & Kailiang Yu & Thomas W. Crowther & Naika Meili & Paolo Burlando & Gabriel G. Katul & Elie Bou-Zeid, 2019. "Magnitude of urban heat islands largely explained by climate and population," Nature, Nature, vol. 573(7772), pages 55-60, September.
    3. Haozhi Pan & Jessica Page & Rui Shi & Cong Cong & Zipan Cai & Stephan Barthel & Patrik Thollander & Johan Colding & Zahra Kalantari, 2023. "Contribution of prioritized urban nature-based solutions allocation to carbon neutrality," Nature Climate Change, Nature, vol. 13(8), pages 862-870, August.
    4. Michelle C. Kondo & Jaime M. Fluehr & Thomas McKeon & Charles C. Branas, 2018. "Urban Green Space and Its Impact on Human Health," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(3), pages 1-28, March.
    5. A. Coutrot & E. Manley & S. Goodroe & C. Gahnstrom & G. Filomena & D. Yesiltepe & R. C. Dalton & J. M. Wiener & C. Hölscher & M. Hornberger & H. J. Spiers, 2022. "Entropy of city street networks linked to future spatial navigation ability," Nature, Nature, vol. 604(7904), pages 104-110, April.
    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. Nandini Halder & Manoj Kumar & Akshay Deepak & Shailendra K. Mandal & Amjad Azmeer & Basit A. Mir & Anissa Nurdiawati & Sami G. Al-Ghamdi, 2025. "The Role of Urban Greenery in Enhancing Thermal Comfort: Systematic Review Insights," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(6), pages 1-30, March.
    2. Veerkamp, C.J. & Loreti, M. & Benavidez, R. & Jackson, B & Schipper, A.M., 2023. "Comparing three spatial modeling tools for assessing urban ecosystem services," Ecosystem Services, Elsevier, vol. 59(C).
    3. Kumar, Sanjesh & Singh, Baljeet, 2019. "Barriers to the international diffusion of technological innovations," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 82(C), pages 74-86.
    4. Bahar, Dany & Rosenow, Samuel & Stein, Ernesto & Wagner, Rodrigo, 2019. "Export take-offs and acceleration: Unpacking cross-sector linkages in the evolution of comparative advantage," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 117(C), pages 48-60.
    5. Naima Chrid & Sami Saafi & Mohamed Chakroun, 2021. "Export Upgrading and Economic Growth: a Panel Cointegration and Causality Analysis," Journal of the Knowledge Economy, Springer;Portland International Center for Management of Engineering and Technology (PICMET), vol. 12(2), pages 811-841, June.
    6. Jasmina Ćetković & Slobodan Lakić & Angelina Živković & Miloš Žarković & Radoje Vujadinović, 2021. "Economic Analysis of Measures for GHG Emission Reduction," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(4), pages 1-25, February.
    7. Gómez-Zaldívar, Manuel & Gómez-Zaldívar, Fernando & Carrillo Ramírez, José Luis, 2024. "Cálculo de los Índices de Complejidad en México: Propuesta para una estimación más periódica y robusta," INVESTIGACIONES REGIONALES - Journal of REGIONAL RESEARCH, Asociación Española de Ciencia Regional, issue 59, pages 213-228.
    8. Adorno, Bruno Vargas & Pereira, Rafael Henrique Moraes & Amaral, Silvana, 2025. "Combining spatial clustering and spatial regression models to understand distributional inequities in access to urban green spaces," OSF Preprints sc9wp_v1, Center for Open Science.
    9. Diogo Ferraz & Fernanda P. S. Falguera & Enzo B. Mariano & Dominik Hartmann, 2021. "Linking Economic Complexity, Diversification, and Industrial Policy with Sustainable Development: A Structured Literature Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(3), pages 1-29, January.
    10. Olimpia Neagu, 2019. "The Link between Economic Complexity and Carbon Emissions in the European Union Countries: A Model Based on the Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) Approach," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(17), pages 1-27, August.
    11. Balland, Pierre-Alexandre & Broekel, Tom & Diodato, Dario & Giuliani, Elisa & Hausmann, Ricardo & O'Clery, Neave & Rigby, David, 2022. "Reprint of The new paradigm of economic complexity," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 51(8).
    12. 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).
    13. Vu, Trung V., 2020. "Economic complexity and health outcomes: A global perspective," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 265(C).
    14. Sèna Kimm Gnangnon, 2022. "Do Aid for Trade Flows Help Reduce the Shadow Economy in Recipient Countries?," Economies, MDPI, vol. 10(12), pages 1-33, December.
    15. Amber L. Pearson & Victoria Breeze & Aaron Reuben & Gwen Wyatt, 2021. "Increased Use of Porch or Backyard Nature during COVID-19 Associated with Lower Stress and Better Symptom Experience among Breast Cancer Patients," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(17), pages 1-13, August.
    16. Malik, Khyati & Kim, Sowon & Cultice, Brian J., 2023. "The impact of remote work on green space values in regional housing markets," Journal of Housing Economics, Elsevier, vol. 62(C).
    17. Gabriel Porcile & Gilberto Tadeu Lima, 2023. "Rentiers, Strategic Public Goods and Financialization in the Periphery," Working Papers PKWP2303, Post Keynesian Economics Society (PKES).
    18. Sudip Ranjan Basu, 2017. "Do data show divergence? Revisiting global income inequality trends," Asia-Pacific Development Journal, United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), vol. 24(1), pages 23-53, June.
    19. Fei Qin & Yiqing Song & George P Nassis & Lina Zhao & Yanan Dong & Cuicui Zhao & Yiwei Feng & Jiexiu Zhao, 2020. "Physical Activity, Screen Time, and Emotional Well-Being during the 2019 Novel Coronavirus Outbreak in China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(14), pages 1-16, July.
    20. Wan Ting Katty Huang & Pierre Masselot & Elie Bou-Zeid & Simone Fatichi & Athanasios Paschalis & Ting Sun & Antonio Gasparrini & Gabriele Manoli, 2023. "Economic valuation of temperature-related mortality attributed to urban heat islands in European cities," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-12, December.

    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:5:p:2217-:d:1604899. 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.