Fair urban environment: the relationship between social justice and urban environmental quality

Social justice and urban environmental quality are important concepts that affect people's well-being and nature preservation. Environmental injustice occurs when a group of people, especially marginalized and vulnerable groups, are more exposed to environmental risks and hazards than others, such as pollution, climate change, and natural disasters. In addition to affecting their health, livelihood, and quality of life, this is, according to an interpretation by Solomonian and Ragiro, a product of flawed systems and processes that cause social injustice, such as exploitation, oppression, and elite dominance, in a vicious circle. It affects the environment, biodiversity, and ecosystem services (Solomonian and Ruggiero, 2021).

Meta-analysis is a method that is used to study various methods and achievements of previous research focused on a specific topic to achieve a summary of theoretical perspectives and study dimensions and possible gaps in that field. The meta-analysis method can lead the researcher to an evaluative framework for use in the field of study and provide the necessary background for expanding concepts and theories or completing previous methods and discovering research interests (Higgins & Green, 2011). In this method, first, a sufficient statistical population of valid previous research is searched and collected by a precise and repeatable algorithm, and then the separate and combined content analysis is performed using appropriate analytical tools (Borenstein et al, 2020; Ioannidis, 2017). In this research, the same method has been used using CMA 3.7 software and the version equipped with Python scripts. In this regard, the keywords of social justice and quality of the urban environment were searched separately in the title section of the Science Direct database between 1990 and 2023, and the result was 4955 and 5000 scientific and research articles, respectively. Then, the combined keyword "social justice and quality of urban environment" was searched in the mentioned period in the Elsevier/Science Direct scientific database as a title, which after review and refinement, The primary statistical and analytical data of 58 fully related articles that dealt with both topics were selected.

Several key challenges obstruct research on the relationship between social justice and urban environmental quality. Firstly, the complexity and uncertainty of environmental problems and solutions pose a challenge. Environmental issues and social justice are often viewed concerning multiple intertwined factors and actors, including trade-offs and conflicts between different goals and interests, complicating the definition, measurement, and comprehensive and coherent addressing of problems and solutions. Secondly, there is a lack of participation and comprehensive representation of affected communities and stakeholders. Research often relies on dominant epistemologies and methodologies, potentially excluding or marginalizing the voices and perspectives of those most affected by environmental problems and solutions, leading to potentially biased or incomplete knowledge and results. Thirdly, the persistence of structural racism and colonialism exacerbates the distribution of benefits and environmental pressures. The literature has grappled with the challenge of transforming historical and institutional factors that have created and perpetuated environmental and social inequalities among different groups and regions of the world. These factors often operate on multiple levels and dimensions and are embedded in the values and narratives of the dominant culture, making analytical studies difficult and costly. Lastly, the dominance of economic growth and consumerism as the main drivers of environmental destruction and social injustice presents a challenge. The literature has grappled with the challenge of conflicting paradigms and choosing alternative paths, resulting in the examination of the concept of social justice without relying on the logic and mechanisms of economic growth and consumerism. This perspective may necessitate fundamental changes in production and consumption patterns, as well as the distribution and allocation of resources and responsibilities between nations and generations. However, the existence of a robust and specific theoretical framework is a prerequisite.

An urban environment, a man-made setting, comprises basic physical and social aspects where individuals live, work, interact, and avail services such as parks, green spaces, urban transportation, amenities, and cultural events. A fair urban environment, therefore, offers opportunities and equitable access to all residents, irrespective of income, gender, ethnicity, age, or physical ability. This concept and approach are crucial as they promote social justice and human rights by ensuring everyone can enjoy a decent quality of life and participate in the city's civic and cultural life. They bolster economic development and innovation by attracting and fostering a diverse and inclusive workforce, drawing talents and investment, and enhancing productivity and competitiveness. They heighten public environmental awareness, leading to a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, improvement in air quality, preservation of natural resources and biological species, adaptation to climate changes, and provision of environmental flexibility. They advocate public health by providing opportunities for physical activity, recreation, and social interaction, thereby improving public health and well-being. They offer a realistic approach, moving away from idealism, which is necessary in the current idealized world for the present and future of cities and their residents. The research findings reveal several critical points for researchers and decision-makers in the field of a fair urban environment. Firstly, the category of a fair urban environment cannot be considered separately from the theoretical and practical issues of social justice, as these two concepts mutually influence each other. Secondly, a fair urban environment requires an interdisciplinary and collaborative approach that utilizes the knowledge and experience of local and affected communities and listens to their voices. Thirdly, a fair urban environment necessitates a change in the systems and structures formed based on the values of exploitation, commodification, and domination, which produce ecological and social crises. Fourthly, a fair urban environment presents an opportunity to effect positive changes at the local and global levels, leading to the improvement of human well-being and nature protection. Despite the strengths and applications of this research, it has limitations. Among other things, due to the focus on the meta-analysis method, only written and existing sources have been used. Also, to validate the findings, a case study and adaptation of the findings based on the local context are needed, which expands the research topic. Further research using various methods and different case studies in this field can offer comprehensive solutions to realize a fair urban environment.