Green Infrastructures: Hidden Costs
May 2023
Singapore Management University (SMU)
Introduction
Dive into the world of green infrastructure with Professor Sayd Randle at Singapore Management University! Discover how LA's eco-friendly projects bring not just lush landscapes but also unpaid labor to local communities. From rain gardens to aquifer recharge, explore the hidden costs of urban environmental initiatives and the quest for environmental justice. It’s a green revolution with a twist – where the grass isn't always greener for everyone. Ready to unearth the complexities of eco-duties?
READ FULL ARTICLEWhy It Matters
Discover how this topic shapes your world and future
Unearthing the Hidden Heroes of Our Planet
Imagine your neighborhood transforming with beautiful green spaces that not only look good but also help the environment by managing water more effectively. Sounds great, right? But what if you learned that keeping these spaces beautiful and functional relies on the hard work of people who aren't getting paid for it? This is where the concept of recognizing unpaid environmental duties comes into play, and why it's so crucial for us to talk about it. It's about understanding the value of the work that goes into maintaining our planet's health, especially in urban areas, and ensuring that this effort is acknowledged and shared fairly. This topic might seem distant, but it's closer to home than you think. Reflect on your local park or community garden. Who takes care of it? Why does it matter? By exploring these questions, you're stepping into a global conversation about environmental justice, sustainability, and how we can all contribute to a healthier planet.
Speak like a Scholar
Ecosystem services
The benefits humans receive from nature, like clean water from wetlands.
Green infrastructure
Systems and practices that use natural processes to manage water and create healthier urban environments, such as rain gardens.
Ethnographic
Relating to the systematic study of people and cultures from the viewpoint of the subject.
Socio-environmental inequality
The unequal distribution of environmental benefits and burdens across different social groups.
Environmental justice
A movement and field of study that examines and addresses how environmental benefits and burdens are distributed among society, often focusing on preventing the disproportionate impact on marginalized communities.
Ecosystem duties
The work required by humans to maintain or enhance ecosystem services, often unrecognized and unpaid.
Independent Research Ideas
Exploring the role of urban green spaces in mental health
Investigate how the maintenance of urban green spaces, and the unrecognized work behind it, impacts the mental health and community well-being of those living nearby.
The economics of ecosystem services
Dive into how cities could potentially monetize ecosystem services and redistribute the economic benefits to those who perform ecosystem duties.
Comparative study of green infrastructure in different socioeconomic neighborhoods
Examine how the implementation and maintenance of green infrastructure vary between affluent and lower-income neighborhoods and its implications on social equity.
Youth participation in urban environmental stewardship
Explore how young people can be engaged in the planning, implementation, and maintenance of green infrastructure projects, and the potential educational and community benefits.
The impact of climate change on urban water management strategies
Investigate how changing climate patterns are influencing the adoption of green infrastructure in cities around the world and the role of community labor in these adaptations.
