A new study finds: Non-nationals who live in German cities are exposed to more air pollution and have less access to green spaces than nationals. Income level does not seem to factor into this. But there is a third variable which correlates: anti-foreigner sentiment.
Densely populated urban areas often face issues like limited space, high air pollution, and a shortage of green spaces. These environmental factors have a significant impact on residents’ physical and mental health. For instance, high air pollution can lead to respiratory conditions like asthma and increase the risk of cardiovascular disease, while a lack of green spaces is associated with a higher risk of depression. Importantly, not all urban neighbourhoods experience these issues equally, with environmental quality varying significantly across different areas.
In a recent article published in the Urban Studies journal, Christian König (WZB Berlin Social Science Center) explores the socially unequal exposure to environmental ‘goods’ and ‘bads’ (environmental inequality). Specifically, he investigates neighborhood disparities in the exposure to industrial air pollution and the availability of urban green space by income and nationality.
The study addressed three main questions: First, are neighbourhoods with high shares of low-income households or foreign minorities exposed to higher levels of industrial air pollution and/or lower availability of green space? Second, are these environmental inequalities primarily a result of disadvantaged groups moving into more polluted and less green cities, or are these patterns of neighborhood inequality also found within German cities? And third, what micro-level factors could explain these disparities in neighborhood environmental conditions? To answer these questions, the author combines data on the socio-economic and demographic composition of 243,607 urban neighbourhoods across all German cities with satellite and administrative data on the spatial distribution of urban green space and air pollution emitted by large industrial plants.
The study reveals three key findings: First, non-nationals living in German cities face greater exposure to industrial air pollution and have less access to green spaces, while low-income households do not seem to suffer from poorer environmental conditions in their neighbourhoods. Second, these environmental disparities are not only found between cities: The study shows significant inequalities in pollution exposure and green space access by residents’ nationality even within the same city. Third, contrary to the narrative that these setbacks are due to the lower income of non-nationals, they cannot be attributed to income differences between residents with and without German citizenship. Notably, further exploratory analysis suggests that these disparities are more pronounced in cities with strong local anti-foreigner sentiment, as indicated by high right-wing voting in the 2017 general elections.
This study makes a key contribution to research on environmental inequality in Germany by examining social inequalities in neighbourhood characteristics at a finer spatial level than previous work. By focusing on neighbourhood data, it reveals disparities not just between large areas but also within them. It highlights the need to look beyond income-based explanations, considering factors like housing market discrimination, to fully understand urban environmental inequality. The findings also have policy implications: addressing social health inequalities requires a broader approach that considers spatial factors, not just individual-level solutions.
Download the article:
https://doi.org/10.1177/00420980231224224
This article is based on this post by Christian König, first published on Population Europe.