Green, Blue, and White Open Public Spaces in a Changing Arctic City: Learning from Fairbanks Residents and Indigenous Communities
Open Access DepositedThe Arctic, often perceived as a sparsely populated region, is very urbanized, with nearly two-thirds of its population living in cities. This thesis examines the role of open public spaces (OPS) within Arctic urban settings, aligning with the Sustainable Development Goal № 11: to create Sustainable Cities and Communities. In Arctic cities, green and blue spaces (areas with vegetation and water) usually experience short periods of unfrozen water and green vegetation, as they are predominantly covered in ice and snow (white spaces) for most of the year. This research seeks to investigate the impact of climate change on the utilization of OPS by Arctic residents, including Indigenous communities. It investigates the impacts of climate change on space utilization and assesses in what ways perceptions of climate change influence urban development in the Arctic, particularly regarding the right to the cold city, sustainable development, resilience, and justice. The study focuses on the analysis of public spaces in Fairbanks, Alaska, USA. The findings show that the role and usage of OPS in Arctic conditions differ from regions in warmer climates and require different approaches for understanding their contribution to sustainability and resilience. Climate change influences the use of OPS in Fairbanks and highlights the need for equitable access and the inclusion of Indigenous perspectives in urban planning, underscoring the diverse impacts of climate change across communities. The findings contribute to the fields of urban sustainability, resilience, and justice, offering valuable insights for local and Indigenous communities striving for a just Arctic future.
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Khaziakhmetova_gwu_0075M_16869.pdf | 2024-10-02 | Open Access |
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