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Historical redlining and environmental (in)justices: A scoping review of access to green space and exposure to urban heat and air pollution
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  • Jae In Oh,
  • Lincoln Larson,
  • Jelena Vukomanovic,
  • Eleni Bardaka,
  • James Aaron Hipp
Jae In Oh
NC State University
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Lincoln Larson
NC State University
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Jelena Vukomanovic
North Carolina State University
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Eleni Bardaka
NC State University
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James Aaron Hipp
NC State University

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

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Abstract

Redlining, a historically discriminatory mortgage lending practice, has recently gained attention as a potential cause of public health disparities. However, no study has attempted to synthesize the growing body of research linking redlining to present-day inequalities in access to green space and corresponding environmental health risks. This scoping review aims to provide a comprehensive summary that identifies key characteristics (data, methods, outcomes) and knowledge gaps of current studies exploring the impact of redlining on disproportionate exposure to environmental goods and harms. Using PRISMA guidelines, 21 peer-reviewed articles published between 2020 and 2023 met inclusion criteria. Across included studies, we identified a variety of different study designs (e.g., cross-sectional, longitudinal), outcomes (green space disparity, environmental health inequalities), measures of greenspace (e.g., tree canopy, tree size, NDVI), and environmental health risks (air pollution, extreme heat). The results of this scoping review show that historically redlined neighborhoods have less green space and face greater environmental health risks compared to non-redlined neighborhoods. Although green space and large or mature trees remains scarce in redlined neighborhoods compared to non-redlined neighborhoods, studies show that redlined neighborhoods exhibit a more noticeable increase in tree canopy over time and a higher presence of smaller trees. Disproportionate exposure to air pollution and heat underscores the need for green space planning in redlined neighborhoods that addresses these environmental burdens. Future redlining studies should incorporate additional dimensions of environmental justice, including procedural and recognition justice, to understand the underlying factors perpetuating distributive injustices and identify potential solutions to these health challenges.
03 Oct 2024Submitted to ESS Open Archive
03 Oct 2024Published in ESS Open Archive