Social-ecological justice in cities: a spatial vulnerability approach

Abstract Ecological and social injustices are deeply intertwined, yet their integration into strategic spatial planning is widely lacking. This paper presents a spatial, participatory, multi-criteria approach to assess social-ecological vulnerabilities in the Metropolitan Area of Krakow (MK), Poland...

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Main Authors: Johannes Langemeyer, Svea Busse, Agnieszka Arabas, Giulia Benati, Tomasz Bergier, Sara Maestre-Andrés, Isabel Melo
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-07-01
Series:npj Urban Sustainability
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s42949-025-00234-8
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Summary:Abstract Ecological and social injustices are deeply intertwined, yet their integration into strategic spatial planning is widely lacking. This paper presents a spatial, participatory, multi-criteria approach to assess social-ecological vulnerabilities in the Metropolitan Area of Krakow (MK), Poland. Our approach incorporates co-created insights into urban vulnerabilities, considering social and ecological sensitivities alongside exposure to social and environmental hazards. In collaboration with local planning bodies, the co-creation process identified ten critical vulnerabilities, including to river flooding, to noise pollution, and to drought. A comprehensive data analysis with 47 indicators mapped social and ecological vulnerabilities spatially. This detailed assessment establishes a foundation for a strategic spatial planning in MK, suggesting a paradigm shift towards social-ecological needs-based green space planning and addressing spatially explicit social-ecological vulnerabilities under consideration of diverse preferences.
ISSN:2661-8001