Degrowth Gardens: From Neoliberal Greening to Urban Commons
Season 2 Episode:6. June 02, 2026
Critiques growth-oriented urban greening, informing our degrowth framework that prioritizes access equity and ecological regeneration over property values and consumption.
Summary: Exposes how neoliberal greening serves capital accumulation; proposes that nature should be stewarded collectively as a commons.
Connection: Rejects neoliberal greening by asserting green space is a right, governed participatorily by users rather than city planners seeking "competitiveness."
Key Takeaways:
• Neoliberal urban greening treats nature as a growth driver and status symbol
• A degrowth framework prioritizes the right to the city over status consumption
• Equitable green space access requires challenging capitalist development models
• Simple behavioral nudges can promote pro-environmental practices
• Social-ecological transformation demands systemic alternatives to growth-based planning
Keywords: Degrowth, urban greening, neoliberalism, social-ecological transformation.
Keywords: Pro-environmental behavior, reminders, recycling, Peru, behavioral economics.
Source: Can reminders promote regular pro-environmental behavior? Experimental evidence from Peru by Hanna Fuhrmann-Riebel et al.
Source: From neoliberal urban green space production and consumption to urban greening as part of a degrowth agenda, J. Kronenberg
The Feminist Park is a pioneering intersectional feminist urban initiative that reimagines public green space through the lived experiences of women, migrants, LGBTQI+ people, and racialised communities. Rooted in care ethics, anti-racism, and queer theory, the project challenges the androcentric design of cities by co-creating inclusive, safe, and ecologically regenerative parks. By combining rigorous scientific research with grassroots feminist praxis, the Feminist Park advocates for the right to the city for all bodies,particularly those historically excluded from public space. Learn more and join the movement at www.feminist-park.org.
