Urban Green Infrastructure for Heat Mitigation and Social Equity: Global Perspectives and Challenges

Dear Colleagues,

Against the backdrop of rapid global urbanization and escalating climate impacts, cities worldwide are increasingly confronted with the converging challenges of intensifying urban heat islands and deepening socioeconomic inequalities. The year 2023 was recorded as the warmest in history, with urban centers experiencing amplified thermal effects that exacerbate energy consumption, public health vulnerabilities, and environmental injustices. As municipalities increasingly adopt green infrastructure as a strategic response to these pressing issues, critical questions emerge regarding how nature-based solutions can effectively address thermal comfort requirements while ensuring equitable distribution of benefits across diverse socioeconomic groups.

In particular, the phenomenon of green gentrification—wherein environmental improvements inadvertently lead to the displacement of vulnerable residents—has underscored the urgent need for scholarly examination and practical interventions that balance ecological benefits with social justice. This Special Issue seeks to advance a comprehensive understanding of how urban green infrastructure can be strategically planned, designed, and implemented to balance thermal mitigation goals with social equity objectives across varied global contexts. We welcome original research articles, review papers, perspectives, and case studies that explore the complex relationships between ecological benefits and social outcomes, with particular emphasis on critical examinations of the tensions among technical efficiency, economic viability, and justice considerations in green infrastructure development. Contributions may address, but are not limited to, the following themes:

• Thermal performance and microclimate regulation of green infrastructure across different climatic zones
• Health and well-being benefits of urban greenery with explicit equity considerations
• Green gentrification: mechanisms, impacts, and preventive strategies
• Cost–benefit analyses of green infrastructure in varying economic and climatic contexts
• Integration of traditional ecological knowledge with technological innovations
• Comparative studies of green infrastructure approaches between Global North and Global South cities
• Equity dimensions of green infrastructure distribution and accessibility
• Community-led alternatives to conventional green infrastructure development
• Case studies demonstrating successful balance of environmental and social objectives
• Critical analyses of standardized approaches to urban green infrastructure

Dr. Paul Osmond
Dr. Bo Wang
Dr. Peng Cui
Guest Editors

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