Negotiating green and climate-resilient futures: environmental subjectivities and the co-production of urban green futures.

Urban green infrastructure (UGI) is increasingly recognised for climate resilience building in rapidly urbanising African cities. Yet, its implementation often falters due to limited institutional capacity and weak public engagement. This study examines the environmental subjectivities-how individuals perceive and position themselves about climate risks and ecological solutions-that shape receptivity to UGI with a focus on its perceived role in climate change adaptation in Kumasi, Ghana. Drawing on a mixed-methods design, data were collected from 103 residents through surveys and semi-structured interviews, complemented by institutional perspectives from city officials. Descriptive statistics and binary logistic regression were applied to assess the socio-demographic and perceptual factors influencing support for UGI, while qualitative analysis explained the meanings residents attach to climate risks and urban green infrastructure. Findings reveal high awareness of climate change, grounded in lived experiences of flooding, heat stress, and erratic rainfall. Respondents interpret UGI not merely as technical infrastructure but as everyday socio-ecological assets that cool homes, improve health, foster belonging, and restore dignity. However, enthusiasm is constrained by financial barriers, regulatory bottlenecks, and low institutional trust. Critically, results highlight a latent environmental agency, where residents envision themselves as co-producers of climate solutions when empowered through inclusive planning, ecological education, and participatory governance. The study advances theoretical debates on environmental subjectivities in African urbanism while offering practical pathways for embedding UGI into climate-responsive policy. It underscores the importance of aligning imaginaries with institutional action to foster resilient, just, and liveable cities.