Urban green space accessibility inequality: spatial and intergenerational disparities

Urban green spaces provide multiple benefits to human beings, such as physical and mental health, and reduce social vulnerability; however, green space distribution is rarely equal in most cities. Although green space equality has been assessed in cities worldwide, spatio-temporal analyses and cross-age comparisons at the village scale on this topic are scarce. To address this knowledge gap, this study utilised bivariate local spatial autocorrelation (BiLISA) to analyse spatial clustering patterns of the Gini coefficient from 2014 to 2019 and to study the differences in inequality levels among young, working-age, and elderly populations in the Taipei metropolis. Despite a slight increase in green space provision during the period, the results indicate that the Taipei metropolis continues to confront significant issues of green space inequality, which have even worsened over time. BiLISA illustrated that areas with high green space inequality in both years were clustered on the outskirts of the Taipei metropolis, whereas regions with more equitable green space distribution were scattered throughout the study area. Moreover, young and older groups suffer from a more intense rising trend in green space access inequality than the working-age group, revealing intergenerational environmental injustices. They highlight the need for location-specific strategies in the Taipei metropolis to promote inclusive greening and achieve environmental justice during the planning process.