Promoting Green Transformations through Smart Engagement: An Assessment of 100 Citizen-Led Urban Greening Projects

Eleni Oikonomaki (), Ilektra Papadaki and Christina Kakderi
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Eleni Oikonomaki: URENIO Research, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 541 24 Thessaloniki, Greece
Ilektra Papadaki: URENIO Research, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 541 24 Thessaloniki, Greece
Christina Kakderi: URENIO Research, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 541 24 Thessaloniki, Greece

Land, 2024, vol. 13, issue 4, 1-20

Abstract: In the face of challenges like heatwaves, flooding, other extreme events, as well as increasing pollution and declining quality of life in cities, there is a growing demand for the preservation and expansion of urban green spaces, often driven by citizen-led transformations. This paper examines 100 urban greening projects initiated or supported by citizens globally, categorizing them according to the type of greenery, the stakeholders involved, the mode of implementation, and the use of smart technologies incorporated. We notice variations in green endeavors based on the stakeholders orchestrating them; most of the entirely citizen-led initiatives being aimed at the creation of urban farms and food growing, demonstrating the pressing need to secure food and self-determination in communities. More than half of the assessed initiatives that managed to scale up and multiply had public authorities providing a framework or a type of support for their development or an NGO or other organization providing expertise and mobilizing citizens at various stages. In terms of technological use, we mostly found that websites and social media platforms ease participatory endeavors and knowledge sharing of best practices, accelerating scaling efforts, while there is low integration of more advanced digital technologies, which, if used, could enable real-time monitoring of green spaces, inform evidence-based decision-making, and streamline processes in scaling up green initiatives.

Keywords: urban greening initiatives; civic action; smart technologies; green transition; climate change; urban transformation; green city; smart city planning (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q15 Q2 Q24 Q28 Q5 R14 R52 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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