Accessibility analysis and optimization strategies of green spaces for enhancing climate resilience: Equity-oriented insights from megacities

Abstract

With the rapid growth of urban populations, disparities in green space allocation have become more evident. As critical components of green space, parks play a vital role in mitigating climate risks and supporting residents’ physical and mental well-being. However, in rapidly expanding megacities, spatial and social inequities in park accessibility hinder green space from fully delivering its climate adaptation functions. This paper develops a framework for social equity in access to urban parks in megacities, providing a practical tool to guide equitable and climate-resilient urban green space planning. Using residential buildings as the unit of analysis, park equity among different population groups was assessed based on the three transportation modes of walking, cycling and public transportation. The results showed that 1) The park coverage is 70.82 %, with a Gini coefficient of 0.3547, indicating inadequate coverage and localized disparities; 2) Significant variations in equity exist across the three transportation modes. As residents’ mobility options improve (from walking to public transportation), their activity range expands, increasing park access opportunities; 3) The Gini Coefficient reveals pronounced inequities among vulnerable groups, with the elderly experiencing greater disparities in resource allocation, especially in urban centers where they are concentrated. 4) Areas with dense populations and limited park accessibility show higher land surface temperatures (LSTs), reflecting reduced heat resilience and limited capacity to alleviate the heat island effect. This demonstrates that equitable access to urban parks plays a key role in strengthening local climate resilience.