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Spatial inequalities in living conditions have traditionally been attributed to geographical location, the opposition between urban and rural settings or the size of settlements. Accordingly, the geographical literature has used these oppositions to explain not only differences in access to education, work and services but also diversity of lifestyles, beliefs and even political attitudes. In recent decades, however, urban areas have extended their scope, urbanization has become more dispersed, territories have become more interdependent and spatial hierarchies have tended to weaken. At the same time, social inequalities have become more marked, as manifested spatially by residential segregation. This article puts forward the thesis that residential segregation constitutes a considerably better explanatory factor currently for the elucidation of social inequalities and differences in living conditions in regional spaces than geographical location, the urban/rural divide or the size of settlements. A set of key indicators in the population of residents in Catalonia (level of education, socio-economic position, risk of poverty, self-perceived health and life satisfaction) are therefore analyzed from various spatial perspectives to explore this argument and evaluate each indicator’s explanatory potential. The main results seem to confirm the hypothesis that the most striking spatial inequalities are associated with residential segregation.
Joan Checa; Oriol Nel·lo. Residential Segregation and Living Conditions. An Analysis of Social Inequalities in Catalonia from Four Spatial Perspectives. Urban Science 2021, 5, 45 .
AMA StyleJoan Checa, Oriol Nel·lo. Residential Segregation and Living Conditions. An Analysis of Social Inequalities in Catalonia from Four Spatial Perspectives. Urban Science. 2021; 5 (2):45.
Chicago/Turabian StyleJoan Checa; Oriol Nel·lo. 2021. "Residential Segregation and Living Conditions. An Analysis of Social Inequalities in Catalonia from Four Spatial Perspectives." Urban Science 5, no. 2: 45.
This paper provides an overview of the last 40 years of use, and in many cases abuse, of the natural resources in Catalonia, a country that is representative of European countries in general, and especially those in the Mediterranean region. It analyses the use of natural resources made by mining, agriculture, livestock, logging, fishing, nature tourism, and energy production and consumption. This use results in an ecological footprint, i.e., the productive land and sea surface required to generate the consumed resources and absorb the resulting waste, which is about seven times the amount available, a very high number but very similar to other European countries. This overexploitation of natural resources has a huge impact on land and its different forms of cover, air, and water. For the last 25 years, forests and urban areas have each gained almost 3% more of the territory at the expense of agricultural land; those municipalities bordering the sea have increased their number of inhabitants and activity, and although they only occupy 6.7% of the total surface area, they account for 43.3% of the population; air quality has stabilized since the turn of the century, and there has been some improvement in the state of aquatic ecosystems, but still only 36% are in good condition, while the remainder have suffered morphological changes and different forms of nonpoint source pollution; meanwhile the biodiversity of flora and fauna remains still under threat. Environmental policies do not go far enough so there is a need for revision of the legislation related to environmental impact and the protection of natural areas, flora, and fauna. The promotion of environmental research must be accompanied by environmental education to foster a society which is more knowledgeable, has more control and influence over the decisions that deeply affect it. Indeed, nature conservation goes hand in hand with other social and economic challenges that require a more sustainable vision. Today’s problems with nature derive from the current economic model, which is environmentally unsustainable in that it does not take into account environmental impacts. Lastly, we propose a series of reasonable and feasible priority measures and actions related to each use made of the country’s natural resources, to the impacts they have had, and to their management, in the hope that these can contribute to improving the conservation and management of the environment and biodiversity and move towards sustainability.
Josep Peñuelas; Josep Germain; Enrique Álvarez; Enric Aparicio; Pere Arús; Corina Basnou; Cèsar Blanché; Núria Bonada; Puri Canals; Marco Capodiferro; Xavier Carceller; Alexandre Casademunt; Joan Casals; Pere Casals; Francesc Casañas; Jordi Catalán; Joan Checa; Pedro Cordero; Joaquim Corominas; Adolf De Sostoa; Josep Morral; Marta Estrada; Ramon Folch; Teresa Franquesa; Carla Garcia-Lozano; Mercè Garí; Anna Geli; Óscar González-Guerrero; Javier Gordillo; Joaquim Gosálbez; Joan Grimalt; Anna Guàrdia; Rosó Isern; Jordi Jordana; Eva Junqué; Josep Lascurain; Jordi Lleonart; Gustavo Llorente; Francisco Lloret; Josep Lloret; Josep Mallarach; Javier Martín-Vide; Rosa Medir; Yolanda Melero; Josep Montasell; Albert Montori; Antoni Munné; Oriol Nel·lo; Santiago Palazón; Marina Palmero; Margarita Parés; Joan Pino; Josep Pintó; Llorenç Planagumà; Xavier Pons; Narcís Prat; Carme Puig; Ignasi Puig; Pere Puigdomènech; Eudald Pujol-Buxó; Núria Roca; Jofre Rodrigo; José Rodríguez-Teijeiro; Francesc Roig-Munar; Joan Romanyà; Pere Rovira; Llorenç Sàez; Maria Sauras-Yera; David Serrat; Joan Simó; Jordi Soler; Jaume Terradas; Ramon Vallejo; Paloma Vicente; Joan Vilaplana; Dolors Vinyoles. Impacts of Use and Abuse of Nature in Catalonia with Proposals for Sustainable Management. Land 2021, 10, 144 .
AMA StyleJosep Peñuelas, Josep Germain, Enrique Álvarez, Enric Aparicio, Pere Arús, Corina Basnou, Cèsar Blanché, Núria Bonada, Puri Canals, Marco Capodiferro, Xavier Carceller, Alexandre Casademunt, Joan Casals, Pere Casals, Francesc Casañas, Jordi Catalán, Joan Checa, Pedro Cordero, Joaquim Corominas, Adolf De Sostoa, Josep Morral, Marta Estrada, Ramon Folch, Teresa Franquesa, Carla Garcia-Lozano, Mercè Garí, Anna Geli, Óscar González-Guerrero, Javier Gordillo, Joaquim Gosálbez, Joan Grimalt, Anna Guàrdia, Rosó Isern, Jordi Jordana, Eva Junqué, Josep Lascurain, Jordi Lleonart, Gustavo Llorente, Francisco Lloret, Josep Lloret, Josep Mallarach, Javier Martín-Vide, Rosa Medir, Yolanda Melero, Josep Montasell, Albert Montori, Antoni Munné, Oriol Nel·lo, Santiago Palazón, Marina Palmero, Margarita Parés, Joan Pino, Josep Pintó, Llorenç Planagumà, Xavier Pons, Narcís Prat, Carme Puig, Ignasi Puig, Pere Puigdomènech, Eudald Pujol-Buxó, Núria Roca, Jofre Rodrigo, José Rodríguez-Teijeiro, Francesc Roig-Munar, Joan Romanyà, Pere Rovira, Llorenç Sàez, Maria Sauras-Yera, David Serrat, Joan Simó, Jordi Soler, Jaume Terradas, Ramon Vallejo, Paloma Vicente, Joan Vilaplana, Dolors Vinyoles. Impacts of Use and Abuse of Nature in Catalonia with Proposals for Sustainable Management. Land. 2021; 10 (2):144.
Chicago/Turabian StyleJosep Peñuelas; Josep Germain; Enrique Álvarez; Enric Aparicio; Pere Arús; Corina Basnou; Cèsar Blanché; Núria Bonada; Puri Canals; Marco Capodiferro; Xavier Carceller; Alexandre Casademunt; Joan Casals; Pere Casals; Francesc Casañas; Jordi Catalán; Joan Checa; Pedro Cordero; Joaquim Corominas; Adolf De Sostoa; Josep Morral; Marta Estrada; Ramon Folch; Teresa Franquesa; Carla Garcia-Lozano; Mercè Garí; Anna Geli; Óscar González-Guerrero; Javier Gordillo; Joaquim Gosálbez; Joan Grimalt; Anna Guàrdia; Rosó Isern; Jordi Jordana; Eva Junqué; Josep Lascurain; Jordi Lleonart; Gustavo Llorente; Francisco Lloret; Josep Lloret; Josep Mallarach; Javier Martín-Vide; Rosa Medir; Yolanda Melero; Josep Montasell; Albert Montori; Antoni Munné; Oriol Nel·lo; Santiago Palazón; Marina Palmero; Margarita Parés; Joan Pino; Josep Pintó; Llorenç Planagumà; Xavier Pons; Narcís Prat; Carme Puig; Ignasi Puig; Pere Puigdomènech; Eudald Pujol-Buxó; Núria Roca; Jofre Rodrigo; José Rodríguez-Teijeiro; Francesc Roig-Munar; Joan Romanyà; Pere Rovira; Llorenç Sàez; Maria Sauras-Yera; David Serrat; Joan Simó; Jordi Soler; Jaume Terradas; Ramon Vallejo; Paloma Vicente; Joan Vilaplana; Dolors Vinyoles. 2021. "Impacts of Use and Abuse of Nature in Catalonia with Proposals for Sustainable Management." Land 10, no. 2: 144.
A set of factors has converged to create geopolitical issues of great importance in contemporary Spain. These relate as much to the incorporation of Spain in the process of globalization as to the internal organization of the Spanish State. This chapter examines the contribution of Spanish academic geography in the first two decades of this century to research and debate in the field of political geography. The chapter has been prepared on the basis of a systematic review of the main Spanish academic journals in the field, as well as references to a very considerable bibliography. The chapter comprises five sections: the introduction presents the importance of geopolitical factors in contemporary Spain and states the hypothesis and methodology adopted to develop the chapter; the second section looks at the output of Spanish academic geography on the geopolitical position of the Iberian countries with respect to various geographical areas; the third focuses on studies concerning the borders of the Spanish state; the fourth section examines the work dealing with the institutional organization of what the 1978 Spanish Constitution calls ‘nationalities and regions’; and finally, the fifth section homes in on research into the spatial aspects of local and metropolitan governments. The chapter is then rounded off by a few brief conclusions.
Oriol Nel·lo; Antoni Durà. Geographical Presences and Absences: The Role of Spanish Academic Geography in Geopolitical Debates. Digital Shutdowns and Social Media 2020, 357 -392.
AMA StyleOriol Nel·lo, Antoni Durà. Geographical Presences and Absences: The Role of Spanish Academic Geography in Geopolitical Debates. Digital Shutdowns and Social Media. 2020; ():357-392.
Chicago/Turabian StyleOriol Nel·lo; Antoni Durà. 2020. "Geographical Presences and Absences: The Role of Spanish Academic Geography in Geopolitical Debates." Digital Shutdowns and Social Media , no. : 357-392.
Since the beginning of the economic crisis of 2008, social inequality in the European countries of the Mediterranean has grown significantly. In Italy, Greece, and Spain, the differences in the general distribution of income have increased, as well as the population living below the poverty line and the distance between the most affluent and the most vulnerable social groups. The ratio between the percentage of income perceived by the most favored quintile of the population and the most disadvantaged, for example, has passed between 2007 and 2016 from 5.6 to 6.0 in Greece, from 5.2 to 5.9 in Italy, and from 5.2 to 6.5 in Spain. These are notable increases, especially in the Spanish case, much higher than the average of the OECD countries (OECD 2019). Thus, with the notable exception of Portugal, the Mediterranean countries are today among the most unequal in the European Union.
Laura Fregolent; Oriol Nel·lo. Introduction: Social Change, Political Discontent, and Urban Movements in Southern European Cities. Social Movements and Public Policies in Southern European Cities 2020, 1 -11.
AMA StyleLaura Fregolent, Oriol Nel·lo. Introduction: Social Change, Political Discontent, and Urban Movements in Southern European Cities. Social Movements and Public Policies in Southern European Cities. 2020; ():1-11.
Chicago/Turabian StyleLaura Fregolent; Oriol Nel·lo. 2020. "Introduction: Social Change, Political Discontent, and Urban Movements in Southern European Cities." Social Movements and Public Policies in Southern European Cities , no. : 1-11.
The tensions experienced by European societies in the early twenty-first century have primarily emerged from urban areas. Cities provide the stage for technological innovation and economic transformation, but also the context in which increased inequality and poverty are most keenly felt. This is hardly surprising, as the urbanization of society has been one of the defining features of contemporary European history. This process – marked by a drive to concentrate populations and activities, followed by an expansion of urban networks and lifestyles – has shaped and consolidated the functional and economic preeminence of cities throughout the European territory (Lefebvre 1970; Brenner 2014).
Oriol Nel·lo. Urban Movements and the Challenges of the European City. Social Movements and Public Policies in Southern European Cities 2020, 15 -32.
AMA StyleOriol Nel·lo. Urban Movements and the Challenges of the European City. Social Movements and Public Policies in Southern European Cities. 2020; ():15-32.
Chicago/Turabian StyleOriol Nel·lo. 2020. "Urban Movements and the Challenges of the European City." Social Movements and Public Policies in Southern European Cities , no. : 15-32.
El artículo analiza el comportamiento diferenciado de la población con respecto a la movilidad cotidiana en una situación altamente excepcional: la crisis sanitaria y social provocada por la pandemia de la COVID-19. La investigación, centrada en el área metropolitana de Barcelona, se basa en el análisis de las validaciones de los títulos de transporte en días laborables para acceder a los modos de transporte ferroviario (metro, ferrocarril suburbano y tranvía), en relación con la renta media del territorio donde se produce cada uno de los accesos al sistema. La investigación parte de la hipótesis según la cual la capacidad de cada persona de gestionar su movilidad en la ciudad se relaciona directamente con los recursos económicos y el capital social del que dispone, es decir, de su mayor o menor vulnerabilidad. La evidencia aportada permite confirmar que las personas residentes en entornos más vulnerables han podido reducir menos y más lentamente su movilidad que el resto de la población. Se muestra así cómo, en un contexto en el cual baja movilidad pasa a ser un recurso preciado a la hora de proteger la propia salud y bienestar, la incapacidad de reducir los desplazamientos deviene causa y expresión de la exclusión social.
Joan Checa; Jordi Martín; Joan López; Oriol Nel·lo. Los que no pueden quedarse en casa: movilidad urbana y vulnerabilidad territorial en el área metropolitana de Barcelona durante la pandemia COVID-19. Boletín de la Asociación de Geógrafos Españoles 2020, 1 .
AMA StyleJoan Checa, Jordi Martín, Joan López, Oriol Nel·lo. Los que no pueden quedarse en casa: movilidad urbana y vulnerabilidad territorial en el área metropolitana de Barcelona durante la pandemia COVID-19. Boletín de la Asociación de Geógrafos Españoles. 2020; (87):1.
Chicago/Turabian StyleJoan Checa; Jordi Martín; Joan López; Oriol Nel·lo. 2020. "Los que no pueden quedarse en casa: movilidad urbana y vulnerabilidad territorial en el área metropolitana de Barcelona durante la pandemia COVID-19." Boletín de la Asociación de Geógrafos Españoles , no. 87: 1.
The contribution shares the approach of critical urban studies that have conceptualized urbanization more as a process than as a sum of spatial forms. Thus, the contribution studies the urbanization process not only from the point of view of the physical occupation of land but also considers changes in the intensity of the uses of space. To fulfill this aim, the new sources of nocturnal satellite images are particularly useful. These allow us to observe the intensity of urban uses both in terms of their distribution over space and their recurrence over time. The research focuses on the Iberian Mediterranean coast and permits the verification of the intensity of the urban uses of the space for the whole of this area and their seasonal variations throughout the year. The source of the study are the nighttime satellite images of the Earth for the 2012–2017 period from the NASA SNPP satellite equipped with the VIIRS-DNB instrument. By establishing a threshold of urban light the research shows that those districts with the greatest extensions of urban light do not necessarily correspond with the most densely populated areas. Similarly the absence of urban light does not necessarily indicate the absence of urban uses. Finally, the variations of intensity of light prove to be a good indicator of seasonal variations of activity in tourist areas.
Joan Checa; Oriol Nel·lo. Urban Intensities. The Urbanization of the Iberian Mediterranean Coast in the Light of Nighttime Satellite Images of the Earth. Urban Science 2018, 2, 115 .
AMA StyleJoan Checa, Oriol Nel·lo. Urban Intensities. The Urbanization of the Iberian Mediterranean Coast in the Light of Nighttime Satellite Images of the Earth. Urban Science. 2018; 2 (4):115.
Chicago/Turabian StyleJoan Checa; Oriol Nel·lo. 2018. "Urban Intensities. The Urbanization of the Iberian Mediterranean Coast in the Light of Nighttime Satellite Images of the Earth." Urban Science 2, no. 4: 115.
The European urban system has experienced significant transformations over the last two decades, affecting both the system’s articulation and hierarchy, and the morphology of urban areas. The sources of information on land use, although increasingly precise and exhaustive, present some limitations when it comes to identifying and quantifying this development, particularly due to their sporadic nature. In this context, the advances in the availability, precision, territorial coverage and recurrence of night-time satellite images offer new opportunities to assess the transformation of land uses. Under the assumption that there is a direct relationship between light emissions and the level of urbanisation, the present study identifies the development of the European urban system between 1992 and 2012. In this respect, the level of brightness suggests that the extension of urban land uses has been much greater than those calculated by using other sources, such as aerial photography or planning regulations. The contrast with these sources demonstrates that, even though night-time images are subject to significant limitations, their use can have advantages in the explanation of new patterns of land use. Thus, brightness could contribute to a more complex picture of the urbanization process, measuring not only the artificialisation of land but also the spread and intensity of urban uses of space.
Oriol Nel·lo; Joan López; Jordi Martín; Joan Checa. Energy and urban form. The growth of European cities on the basis of night-time brightness. Land Use Policy 2017, 61, 103 -112.
AMA StyleOriol Nel·lo, Joan López, Jordi Martín, Joan Checa. Energy and urban form. The growth of European cities on the basis of night-time brightness. Land Use Policy. 2017; 61 ():103-112.
Chicago/Turabian StyleOriol Nel·lo; Joan López; Jordi Martín; Joan Checa. 2017. "Energy and urban form. The growth of European cities on the basis of night-time brightness." Land Use Policy 61, no. : 103-112.
The article explores the difficulties and opportunities derived from the study of contemporary urban movements through the discussion of seven questions: definition of urban movements; understanding of their social characteristics; assessment of the issues raised by the movements; continuities and novelties in their composition and behavior; political significance; relationship between urban movements and institutions; and the standpoint of the researcher.
Oriol Nel·lo. Seven challenges for the study of urban movements. City, Territory and Architecture 2016, 3, 23 .
AMA StyleOriol Nel·lo. Seven challenges for the study of urban movements. City, Territory and Architecture. 2016; 3 (1):23.
Chicago/Turabian StyleOriol Nel·lo. 2016. "Seven challenges for the study of urban movements." City, Territory and Architecture 3, no. 1: 23.
Since the mid-1990s, in Spain the evolution of the real estate market and the behaviour of demographical variables have led to an increased risk of social segregation in urban areas. In order to tackle the problems arising from this situation, the regional government of Catalonia promoted the Catalan Neighbourhoods Act. Passed in 2004, the law has enabled to undertake rehabilitation programmes in 141 neighbourhoods, affecting more than 1 million people (13% of total population) and a total committed investment of €1.33 billion. The experience shows some special features in the European context: first, it does not treat underprivileged neighbourhoods as an exception, but handles intervention in these areas as a structural urban policy; second, unlike the eminently reactive approach of many rehabilitation experiences, the approach of the Neighbourhoods Act is above all preventive; finally, the Catalan programme is not limited in time, but is indefinite: it began 7 years ago and has committed to action for at least 5 or 6 more years. Moreover, the scope of the resources mobilized and the neighbourhoods involved to date give the programme a level of power that is not easy to find in other European regions. The article describes the main features of the programme and explains how putting it into action has necessarily involved the need to face five challenges: inter-administrative cooperation; the cross-cutting nature of the programme and the comprehensiveness of action; citizen participation; forming a consensus; and the assessment of results and accountability.
Oriol Nel·lo. The five challenges of urban rehabilitation. The Catalan experience. Urban Research & Practice 2011, 4, 308 -325.
AMA StyleOriol Nel·lo. The five challenges of urban rehabilitation. The Catalan experience. Urban Research & Practice. 2011; 4 (3):308-325.
Chicago/Turabian StyleOriol Nel·lo. 2011. "The five challenges of urban rehabilitation. The Catalan experience." Urban Research & Practice 4, no. 3: 308-325.