Environmental Justice in the Green Transition of Rural Post-Industrial Waterfronts: A Villagers’ Perspective—A Case Study of the Waterfront Area in Jiangsu Province, China

Meng Guo, Yujia Zhong (), Li Tan, Xin Li, Jiayu Wang and Haitao Jin
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Meng Guo: Gold Mantis School of Architecture, Soochow University, Suzhou 215127, China
Yujia Zhong: Gold Mantis School of Architecture, Soochow University, Suzhou 215127, China
Li Tan: Gold Mantis School of Architecture, Soochow University, Suzhou 215127, China
Xin Li: School of Architecture and Urban Planning, Beijing University of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Beijing 100044, China
Jiayu Wang: Gold Mantis School of Architecture, Soochow University, Suzhou 215127, China
Haitao Jin: Gold Mantis School of Architecture, Soochow University, Suzhou 215127, China

Land, 2025, vol. 14, issue 11, 1-26

Abstract: The construction of post-industrial landscapes is increasingly regarded as an important pathway for promoting urban sustainability. However, limited attention has been given to the interconnections between post-industrial landscapes and local villagers in rural contexts. From the perspective of environmental justice, the ecological and cultural-tourism goals of post-industrial landscapes may be mismatched with villagers’ place-based needs. This study examines a typical rural post-industrial waterfront area in China to analyze villagers’ environmental justice. Representative project photographs were collected, and villagers’ perceptions were obtained through questionnaires and semi-structured interviews, yielding 98 valid responses (95% response rate). Quantitative measurements of landscape characteristics were combined with pairwise preference evaluations, and the analysis applied the framework of recognition, participatory, and distributive justice. A discrete choice model (DCM) and spatial analysis were then employed to explore the relationships. Quantitative analysis showed that natural vegetation, plazas, industrial heritage, and pedestrian paths had negative effects on villagers’ recognition (β = −0.36 to −0.18), whereas hardscape had a strong positive effect (β = 0.94). Moreover, spatial analysis indicated localized patterns of environmental injustice, highlighting uneven distribution of landscape benefits across the site. Semi-structured interviews revealed villagers’ priorities across landscape design, amenities, local livelihoods, and project implementation, highlighting the importance of safer, more functional, and well-managed spaces. Collectively, these findings underscore the importance of inclusive planning and design strategies that integrate ecological, cultural, and recreational considerations, thereby supporting the sustainable renewal of rural post-industrial waterfronts.

Keywords: post-industrial landscape; rural landscape; landscape characteristics; pairwise comparison; discrete choice model (DCM) (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q15 Q2 Q24 Q28 Q5 R14 R52 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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