Analysis of Environmental Justice in the Development of Sustainable Urban Landscapes: A Case Study of Zanjan City, Iran

This study investigates spatial inequalities in the distribution of urban green spaces in Zanjan through the lens of environmental justice. Using a qualitative methodology and a case study approach, data were collected through field observations and document analysis. The findings reveal a deeply unequal pattern of green space distribution across the city. Central affluent neighborhoods such as Karmandan and Ansariyeh benefit from a continuous and high-quality network of green areas, while peripheral districts like Golshahr Kazemiyeh face serious deficiencies. These disparities are evident in three dimensions: quantitative (per capita availability), qualitative (amenities and maintenance), and accessibility (distance and safety). The analysis identifies three main mechanisms contributing to and sustaining these inequalities: (۱) an economic mechanism based on land value appreciation, which excludes low-income areas from the resource allocation cycle; (۲) a centralized and opaque political mechanism that limits the meaningful participation of marginalized residents; and (۳) a historical-cultural mechanism that reproduces past discriminatory patterns. These inequalities have broad negative consequences at individual (health and well-being), neighborhood (declining property values), and city-wide (threats to social cohesion) levels. Critiquing current green space management policies that overemphasize quantitative indicators, the study proposes practical solutions across three time horizons: short-term (composite deprivation index and pocket parks), medium-term (neighborhood-based management and an environmental rights charter), and long-term (structural reform in budget allocation). The study concludes that achieving environmental justice in Zanjan requires a paradigm shift in urban planning, with simultaneous attention to the distributive, procedural, and recognitional dimensions of justice.

کلیدواژه ها:

Unequal Resource Distribution ، Environmental Quality ، Spatial Deprivation ، Integrated Urban Management ، Accessibility Assessment