Environmental Justice and the Distribution of Urban Recreational Areas in Astana (Kazakhstan)

The authors of the study believe that urban planning tools and coherent planning of urban green spaces are the primary available methods for mitigating air pollution in Astana. In the survey, urban recreational areas of Astana (urban parks, squares, and gardens) are considered the primary sites of urban green space concentration, serving as the primary source of air filtration and as natural barriers that intercept polluted air flows. However, in addition to the number of recreational areas, they must be distributed evenly throughout the city. In this regard, the study is based on the concept of environmental justice. A statistical juxtaposition of environmental hotspots with social susceptibility features is conducted to determine whether a double burden or double blessing is occurring in the Astana districts. The authors calculated the spatial distribution of air pollution from the city's primary source, Thermal Power Station-2. The study's main finding is that the distribution of urban recreational areas in Astana is unequal. In the city districts most exposed to air pollution and with the lowest income levels, there is a need for additional urban recreational areas to protect residents from air pollution. In contrast, the district with the lowest air pollution and the highest income rate in Astana has the most significant number of urban recreational areas. The study aims to contribute to the emergence of the concept of environmental justice in Kazakhstan by examining the unequal distribution of urban recreational areas in Astana.