Skip to main content

LUP Student Papers

LUND UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES

Urban Heat and Elderly Vulnerability: The Role of Urban Blue and Green Spaces in Gothenburg, Sweden

Bünger, Elsa Birgitta LU (2025) SGED10 20251
Department of Human Geography
Abstract
This research explores how elderly residents in Gothenburg, Sweden, interact with and access-urban blue and green spaces, how this may vary in warmer temperatures, and the applications this-can have in current climate adaptation planning in the city. This study considers a localized focus-area situated in Gothenburg Municipality’s Climate Adaptation Plan. Using a mixed methods-approach, this research is framed through a qualitative exploration of accessibility, usability, and-well-being, and a spatial consideration of elderly demographics, socioeconomic vulnerability, and-accessibility measurements in the identified area. The findings show that transportation, available-amenities, and physical characteristics influence blue and green space... (More)
This research explores how elderly residents in Gothenburg, Sweden, interact with and access-urban blue and green spaces, how this may vary in warmer temperatures, and the applications this-can have in current climate adaptation planning in the city. This study considers a localized focus-area situated in Gothenburg Municipality’s Climate Adaptation Plan. Using a mixed methods-approach, this research is framed through a qualitative exploration of accessibility, usability, and-well-being, and a spatial consideration of elderly demographics, socioeconomic vulnerability, and-accessibility measurements in the identified area. The findings show that transportation, available-amenities, and physical characteristics influence blue and green space access among elderly-residents, and usability, individual preferences, and well-being relate to elderly interactions with-these spaces. Further, areas with higher elderly populations and socioeconomic vulnerability are-identified and related to accessibility measurements within the focus area. This study highlights-that climate adaptation planning should further consider spatial demographics and elderly-experiences in urban blue and green spaces, considering the potential of these spaces in-encouraging health and well-being and reducing heat vulnerability. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Bünger, Elsa Birgitta LU
supervisor
organization
course
SGED10 20251
year
type
M2 - Bachelor Degree
subject
keywords
elderly vulnerability, urban heat mitigation, blue and green space interaction and accessibility
language
English
id
9194119
date added to LUP
2025-06-25 10:14:21
date last changed
2025-06-25 10:14:21
@misc{9194119,
  abstract     = {{This research explores how elderly residents in Gothenburg, Sweden, interact with and access-urban blue and green spaces, how this may vary in warmer temperatures, and the applications this-can have in current climate adaptation planning in the city. This study considers a localized focus-area situated in Gothenburg Municipality’s Climate Adaptation Plan. Using a mixed methods-approach, this research is framed through a qualitative exploration of accessibility, usability, and-well-being, and a spatial consideration of elderly demographics, socioeconomic vulnerability, and-accessibility measurements in the identified area. The findings show that transportation, available-amenities, and physical characteristics influence blue and green space access among elderly-residents, and usability, individual preferences, and well-being relate to elderly interactions with-these spaces. Further, areas with higher elderly populations and socioeconomic vulnerability are-identified and related to accessibility measurements within the focus area. This study highlights-that climate adaptation planning should further consider spatial demographics and elderly-experiences in urban blue and green spaces, considering the potential of these spaces in-encouraging health and well-being and reducing heat vulnerability.}},
  author       = {{Bünger, Elsa Birgitta}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{Urban Heat and Elderly Vulnerability: The Role of Urban Blue and Green Spaces in Gothenburg, Sweden}},
  year         = {{2025}},
}