Conflicts over periurban green infrastructure: Unresolved social problems with nature-based urban solutions

Abstract

Why do green infrastructure interventions rarely meet with broad public enthusiasm despite their fundamental environmental and economic soundness? Illustrated by two periurban cases, from South Africa and the United Kingdom, we argue that unease with green infrastructure runs deeper than “not-in-my-backyardism”, touching on problems with both process and outcome legitimacy in the context of green territorialization. Despite the existence of legislation institutionalising public participation, our findings suggest considerable scope for more inclusive and perhaps less eco-centric practices, and suggest a need for a fundamental dialogue on what is the problem around urban climate adaptation to open political space for dissent and expression of legitimate interests.