Leaving No One Behind - Ensuring the Implementation of Nature-Based Solutions in a Way that Benefits of Green are Accessible in a Just Manner

Abstract

Climate change effects are impacting well-being, and these will increase in frequency and severity in the future. Urbanised areas such as the Netherlands are specifically at risk. Therefore, climate adaptation is required. Nature-based solutions can be implemented as these address multiple challenges simultaneously. Implementation needs to be just to ensure that vulnerable populations are not left behind. This is important as marginalised populations are often disproportionally affected, as is described by the term ‘climate gap’. Several planning challenges arise, including green gentrification and inhabitants experiencing accessibility barriers to implementing green in private spaces, the latter often stimulated through subsidies. Homeowners and inhabitants with more income seem to apply more frequently than others. By considering the green roof subsidy of the municipality of Breda, located in the province of Noord-Brabant, and access of inhabitants to this regulation in a neighbourhood of lower socioeconomic status, this study shows what factors or actions may hinder or increase the number of applications. Recommendations were developed based on analysis of interviews with stakeholders and regulation documents, and considering the three dimensions of radical environmental justice: distribution, procedure and recognition.