Urban socio-environmental inequality in the municipality of São Paulo: The case of Jardim Panorama

This study investigates the socio-environmental inequality affecting the Jardim Panorama neighborhood, located in the west side of São Paulo, State of São Paulo, Brazil. The area is marked by the presence of a high-end condominium, Parque Cidade Jardim, and a small, impoverished favela, Favela do Jardim Panorama, separated by less than 100 m. The article explores the historical background and conceptual frameworks of socio-environmental inequality, including gentrification and environmental injustice, aiming to highlight the dynamics and impacts on the populations living in Jardim Panorama. A qualitative approach is adopted, involving the analysis of public documents and the collection of data on the area from research institutions and public platforms. At a local scale, the study area reveals the stark social contrasts characteristic of major Brazilian cities. The findings indicate that Jardim Panorama is subject to processes of gentrification and environmental injustice, exposing intense socio-spatial segregation driven by affluent residents and the resistance of a socio-environmentally vulnerable population, rendered invisible by the State.