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From China to California, self-described “greening” efforts claiming to address inequality and the climate crisis proliferate. But why are such projects—undertaken in the name of sustainability, resilience, and quality of life—being carried out in such a wide range of places with very different histories, ecologies, and cultural repertoires for urban life?
Based on a historical study of Germany’s Ruhr Valley, sociologist Hillary Angelo offers a sociological explanation of urban greening as a global, contemporary phenomenon. She argues that greening is a social practice made possible by a social imaginary of nature as an indirect or moral good, called urbanized nature. Her talk highlights the same logics of urban nature at work in contemporary climate adaptation and mitigation efforts in the United States, and explores their consequences, particularly regarding conceptions of climate justice and equity.

Overall, this talk demonstrates that old ideas of nature shape contemporary visions of climate-friendly urbanism—despite often being ill-suited for the problems they purport to solve—and shows how these ideas affect the conception and pursuit of ecological goals and drive interventions in the built environment.

SPEAKER
Hillary Angelo, University of California, Santa Cruz

MODERATION
Stefan Höhne, KWI

PARTICIPATION
This is a public event and participation is free of charge. There is no registration necessary.

ORGANISATION
An event organized by the Institute for Social Movements (Ruhr-University Bochum) in cooperation with the Institute for Advanced Study in the Humanities (KWI).

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Wissenschaftlicher Ansprechpartner:
Stefan Höhne, KWI

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Weitere Informationen:
https://www.kulturwissenschaften.de/veranstaltung/how-green-became-good/ - Link to KWI Website