Spatio-temporal correlation characteristics between inequality of green space exposure and thermal comfort under economic development in Wuhan, China

Concerns have been raised about the impact of green space exposure inequality on thermal comfort (characterize with wet bulb globe temperature), but the spatio-temporal correlations between them remain unclear. This study collected data from multiple sources including wet bulb globe temperature, land cover, green space, and residential points. It estimated green space exposure inequality by constructing a green space exposure index and analyzed the spatiotemporal correlation characteristics between thermal comfort and green space exposure inequality in Wuhan from 2012 to 2020 using multivariate statistical methods. It also examined how economic factors influence the changes in these spatio-temporal characteristics using per capita gross domestic product (GDP) data and the environmental Kuznets curve model. The results indicate that the average annual increase in wet bulb globe temperature was 0.07–0.1 °C/a in central urban areas with significant "low-value" clustering (p < 0.01) and 0.09–0.14 °C/a in suburban areas without clustering. Both wet bulb globe temperature and green space exposure inequality generally increased until 2018, after which they declined sharply. Spatially, both showed low–low clustering in central urban areas. Improvements in the green space exposure inequality trend could mitigate the increasing trend in thermal discomfort in these areas. The relationships between green space exposure, green space exposure inequality, wet bulb globe temperature, and per capita GDP were consistent with the environmental Kuznets curve model hypothesis at the regional scale. This study provides scientific references for sustainable urban development issues such as urban green space planning and human health adaptation assessments.