Ecological and societal trade-offs of living a good, safe and green life in urban ecological enclaves

Abstract

This paper provides a critical cross-disciplinary perspective on urban ecological enclaves as attempts to fulfill the dream of a good life in a safe and green urban context. We take advantage of fertilizing fields of strategic urban planning and design with fields of human geography to unfold potential ecological and societal trade-offs across different scales for the realization of such developments. Based on empirical cases across geographical regions, we exemplify such trade-offs in relation to the displacement of ecological and climatic effects, increased social discrimination and inequity among the urban population and beyond. As a way forward, we seek to intensify awareness of the shortcomings of enclave designations versus the potentials and challenges of traditional, more holistic upgrading strategies through a framework that exposes shortcomings and spans across urban sustainability scales. We propose a more nuanced approach to urban ecological enclaves, in which the regional perspective dominates while avoiding security framings. We challenge the trend of such green initiatives being planned dominantly in upper-class districts, in turn compromising collective rights. By exemplifying the shortfalls of this popular development trend, we aim to contribute to deeper-rooted societal transitions that consider more inclusionary framings of sustainable cities.