A research lab at ICTA-UAB
Jardins de la Rambla in Sants, Barcelona. Photos by Adrià Goula
Green Gentrification Report for Diputacio de Barcelona
BCNUEJ works with local policymakers in Barcelona to address possible inequities emerging from urban greening projects. Read our recent report on green gentrification for the Diputació de Barcelona, which raises awareness on the social risks of greening projects, especially those related with displacement, eviction, and inequitable urban development in the city.
While green spaces have been shown to contribute to improved physical health by encouraging active lifestyles and creating localized conditions that reduce rates of disease associated with air pollution and noise, they might also create displacement and exclusionary dynamics. For instance, our study reveals that several parks in the Sant Martí and Ciutat Vella districts including the Poblenou Park and the Port Olímpic parks experienced strong environmental gentrification, with increases in the proportion of residents with a college degree, from a higher socio-economic status, and holding nationalities from countries in the Global North. More specifically, in the Sant Martí district, the percentage of residents holding a bachelor’s degree or higher increased by nearly 28% on average around a local park against only a 7.59% increase for the district as a whole over a period of 10 years – a visible indicator of gentrification.