Consequential urban development of sustainable strategies

A green transition is necessary for urban development so that cities can foster a more sustainable urban future. While this need has gained increasing recognition in planning policies in recent decades, there is a risk that counterproductive interests, which are concealed by the sustainable agenda, may go unnoticed. The paper examines disparities between urban neighborhoods, which contemporary sustainable urban planning may either neglect or reinforce. It draws on an empirical study of two areas in Copenhagen and is informed by the literature on eco-gentrification and the paradox of sustainable development. The case areas exhibit divergent sustainability profiles: a low-income area with large green spaces but inadequate transport infrastructure compared to a newly built sustainable area. The paper underscores the disproportionate focus on social and green improvements in urban renewal projects that are framed as sustainable. It highlights that disparities between neighborhoods with mixed sustainability profiles become evident when focusing on the broad spectrum of sustainable urban practices in places significantly or slightly affected by them.