Political beliefs and tree canopies in Israel: New insights on urban green space disparities

Abstract

Green spaces moderate adverse climate change effects in urban areas. A GIS dataset on tree canopies within urban areas in Israel is employed to examine disparities in tree canopy availability associated with population political beliefs. Political inclination is identified based on small statistical area votes in national elections using a clustering method. Based on multivariate regression analysis, findings show that areas dominated by politically left-leaning voters are associated with a greater presence of tree canopies, as compared to their right-leaning counterparts. We also find that ethnic background, socioeconomic index score, income level, age, proximity to central business districts and density are associated with the availability of tree canopies. Political belief controls considerably mitigate the observed correlation regarding socioeconomic status. Finally, we apply and compute a Gini measure of inequality in the availability of tree canopies, the decomposition of which underscores the segmentation in tree canopy availability depending on political inclination. Our evidence sheds new light on the existing debate over the extent to which partisanship is associated with climate-relevant behaviors and outcomes, as well as highlights the critical need for policy interventions that prioritize equal access to green spaces across communities.