More parks, more justice? Unpacking distributional and recognitional justice in Shanghai’s urban greening policies

Urban greening is increasingly promoted in global cities, but justice concerns in green planning are largely framed through Western experiences, with limited attention to non-Western planning contexts. This study examined justice-related issues in Shanghai’s greening policies by applying a “4 A” approach that analyses four key dimensions of urban park provision: adequacy, availability, accessibility, and attractiveness. Based on policy documents and 38 interviews with planning stakeholders, the findings reveal limited integration of justice despite significant progress in greening. Park planning prioritises quantitative targets and spatial parity, with little attention paid to social diversity and the specific needs of vulnerable groups. Local contextual factors, such as multilevel governance divergence, development stages, regulatory constraints, and growth-driven narratives, collectively influence justice integration in green planning. This paper proposes a multidimensional framework linking justice dimensions, planning requirements, and local contextual conditions. By offering empirical insights from a non-Western, state-led planning context, it contributes to global environmental justice debates. The study calls for a shift from supply-driven approaches to justice-oriented planning that actively recognises and responds to diverse social needs. • Extends provision frameworks by applying a 4 A approach to analyse greening policies • Reveals limited justice integration in Shanghai’s ambitious greening efforts • Links justice concerns with planning tools and governance dynamics • Identifies context-specific barriers to equitable green space provision • Develops a multidimensional framework to analyse justice in green space planning