A Gas Pipeline Investigation Built on Community-Centered Ideas

Eos ◽

10.1029/2021eo210675 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 102 ◽

Author(s):

Kimberly Cartier

Keyword(s):

Environmental Justice ◽

Community Engagement ◽

Research Question ◽

Gas Pipeline ◽

Scientific Process

From developing a research question to enacting solutions, environmental justice requires community engagement in every step of the scientific process.

Download Full-text

How are nature based solutions contributing to priority societal challenges surrounding human well-being in the United Kingdom: a systematic map protocol

Environmental Evidence ◽

10.1186/s13750-019-0180-4 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 8 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Jan Dick ◽

James D. Miller ◽

Jonathan Carruthers-Jones ◽

Anne J. Dobel ◽

Steve Carver ◽

...

Keyword(s):

United Kingdom ◽

Environmental Justice ◽

Spatial Scales ◽

Research Question ◽

Well Being ◽

Acoustic Environment ◽

The United Kingdom ◽

Societal Challenges ◽

Cost Efficacy ◽

Management Issues

Abstract Background The concept of Nature-based Solutions (NBS) has evolved as an umbrella concept embracing concepts such as Green/Blue/Nature Infrastructure, Ecosystem Approach, Ecosystem Services, but at their core, they cluster into the general theme of learning from and using nature to create sustainable socio-ecological systems, which enhance human well-being (HWB). NBS address societal challenges across a broad range of spatial scales—local, regional and global—and temporal scales—medium to long-term. While there are many reviews and a clear evidence base linking certain NBS to various elements of HWB, particularly urban greenspace and human health, no comprehensive mapping exists of the links between NBS interventions and the associated multiple positive and negative HWB outcomes across a range of habitats. The initial research phase used a participatory co-design process to select four priority societal challenges facing the United Kingdom: three related to management issues i.e. NBS cost-efficacy, governance in planning, environmental justice, and the fourth threats to the acoustic environment. These challenges collectively address priority management issues which stakeholders requested be investigated widely i.e. across landscapes, cityscapes, seascapes and soundscapes. Results of the study are intended to identify and define potential future environmental evidence challenges for UK science. Methods This protocol describes the methodology for approaching the research question: What evidence is there for nature based solutions and their impacts on human wellbeing for societal challenges related to cost-efficacy, governance in planning, environmental justice, and the acoustic environment? Using systematic mapping, this study will search for and identify studies that seek to assess nature-based solutions on human well-being with regard to these four societal challenges. Systematic searches across a number of academic/online databases are tested against a number of test articles. Search results are refined using eligibility criteria through a three stage process: title, abstract, full text. Data from screened studies are extracted using a predefined coding strategy. Key trends in data will be synthesized according to a range of secondary questions and be presented in a graphical matrix illustrating the knowledge gaps and clusters for research into nature-based solutions and human well-being for each societal challenge.

Download Full-text

Environmental and Public Health Issues: Community Engagement in Environmental Justice Populations

Encyclopedia of Water ◽

10.1002/9781119300762.wsts0183 ◽

2019 ◽

pp. 1-18

Author(s):

Matthew J. Neet ◽

Jamelle H. Ellis ◽

Zachary H. Hart ◽

Geoffrey I. Scott ◽

Daniela B. Friedman ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Environmental Justice ◽

Community Engagement ◽

Health Issues

Download Full-text

Mobilizing for Community Benefits to Assess Health and Promote Environmental Justice near the Gordie Howe International Bridge

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph17134680 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 17 (13) ◽

pp. 4680

Author(s):

Natalie Sampson ◽

Simone Sagovac ◽

Amy Schulz ◽

Lauren Fink ◽

Graciela Mentz ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Environmental Justice ◽

Community Engagement ◽

Health Care Access ◽

Survey Methods ◽

Household Survey ◽

Adverse Outcomes ◽

Community Benefits

Transportation infrastructure decisions contribute to social, economic, and health inequities in the U.S. Health Impact Assessments (HIAs) may improve understanding of potential strategies to mitigate adverse effects on quality of life from planned developments. We use the Gordie Howe International Bridge (GHIB), currently under construction in southwest Detroit, MI, as a case study to examine 15 years of community mobilization, which resulted in community benefits that included an HIA. We describe community engagement processes, household survey methods, and select findings of the baseline HIA, with a focus on their application to inform recommendations to promote quality of life. Baseline HIA results indicated significantly higher self-reported asthma rates among children living within 500 feet of trucking routes. Residents reported substantial economic (e.g., decreased home values), health (e.g., adverse outcomes, lack of health care access), and environmental (e.g., air pollution) concerns related to the GHIB. We discuss specific recommendations, based on HIA results, to reduce adverse impacts of the GHIB. These recommendations will inform ongoing community benefits negotiations. This case study provides lessons for community, academic, and government partners conducting HIAs, especially during building and operation of major infrastructure, and discusses their potential role in improving community engagement opportunities towards environmental justice.

Download Full-text

America’s Natural Gas Pipeline Routes and Environmental Justice

Eos ◽

10.1029/2021eo160766 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 102 ◽

Author(s):

Elizabeth Thompson

Keyword(s):

Natural Gas ◽

Environmental Justice ◽

Gas Pipeline ◽

Vulnerable Communities ◽

Natural Gas Pipeline

Pipeline infrastructure disproportionately burdens America’s most vulnerable communities.

Download Full-text

Understanding Dynamic Engagement of Community in Local Governance, Enhancing Grassroots Development in South Africa

Journal of Education and Vocational Research ◽

10.22610/jsds.v10i1(s).2808 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 10 (1(S)) ◽

pp. 22-32

Author(s):

Andrew Osehi Enaifoghe ◽

Cotties Toyin Adetiba

Keyword(s):

Community Engagement ◽

Local Governance ◽

Research Question ◽

Secondary Source ◽

Grassroots Development ◽

Community Needs ◽

Community Interest ◽

Poor Access ◽

Basic Ideas ◽

Access To Data

The discourse on "Community engagement and commitmentâ€ is a critical subject that requires the interest of individuals within communities to fully participate in activities that address community needs. A meaningful citizen engagement reaches out beyond physical inclusion to incorporate the generation of thoughts and deliberations. In addition, it includes the commitments to leadership process in decision-making and the involvement of community members in the administrative responsibility. Among the elements that propel individuals to take an interest to participate in local governance need to assume a functioning role in bettering their very own lives, satisfying social or religious commitments feeling a need for a sense of community, and other quantifiable benefits. This study conceptualizes what community engagement, models, and frameworks is about and that can be used as a guide, to inspire communities in meeting various challenges relating to their interest in participation and cooperation. The study does not claim to cover all the accessible and significant human sociology on public cooperation literature. Qualitatively, the study gave an outline of the basic ideas that shed light on community participation, cooperation and commitment to duty and responsibility. As the study adopted a qualitative approach, mostly secondary source was consulted to address the research question. The findings show that the instrumental way to deal with citizensâ€™ concerns, with attention to results and adequacy is considerably more far-reaching than the more transformative method. Furthermore, people ought to review challenges related with gathering politicization of improvement and participatory structures, the absence of responsibility towards organizing community interest, the absence of limit capacity among partners, poor access to data or information, and inability to perceive and work intimately with community-based associations. It was then recommended that the community and different partners take part in the discussions that prompted the last record, as this is required by the South African Municipal Structures Act.

Download Full-text

Common unity: reconnecting people with the environment through indigenous values and participatory design

10.26686/wgtn.17149004 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

◽

Fetu Ese

Keyword(s):

Community Engagement ◽

Cultural Values ◽

Participatory Design ◽

Design Research ◽

Research Question ◽

Community Members ◽

Existing Problems ◽

The People ◽

Final Design ◽

Community Growth

<p>A significant problem for struggling communities in New Zealand is disconnection from the environment and a loss of cultural values. These issues cause disengagement and division between the people and the environment. Social stability gradually declines, leading to participation within one’s community being discouraged. Investigations into community engagement and the enhancement of the community environment suggest there has been a failure to address the current issues affecting struggling communities. Disconnect and disregard for Indigenous values in communities prove to be a defining factor in the relationship between people and the environment. Indigenous Māori incorporated Mātauranga (knowledge), Tikanga (customs) and Māori values in their way of life which proved instrumental in their development and sense of Kotahitanga (unity) between themselves and with the environment. This allowed Māori to become one with the land and for Whanaungatanga (sense of belonging) and Kaitiakitanga (guardianship of the land) to spread through the people. However, these values have been compromised and subsequently lost due to the European influence on the land and on Māori people. There needs to be a vigorous search for answers on how to reconnect people with these values so as to build strong and united communities. This design research looks at ways of enhancing the struggling community of Takapūwāhia, Porirua, and the local iwi, Ngāti Toa. It seeks to address problems of disconnect, disengagement and loss of values between the environment and the people. This research aims to answer the research question ‘How can we unite a community by implementing Indigenous values when designing for people?’ The first step will be to undertake a literature review and evaluation of various case studies relevant to the research question. Then community engagement will take place so people can come together to evaluate existing problems and to enable the voice and vision of the people to influence the final design outcome. Effective methods of community engagement will be employed through Participatory and Consultative Design which will provide ways of communicating ideas and solutions. Design experiments will be carried out on the identified problem degraded sites within the Takapūwāhia community. These will be presented back to the community with participation with other community members in the design process, contributing to community growth and identity. With the key objective of the research being to unite the Takapūwāhia community, this will be achieved through their voice and their vision being integral to the design outcome, which will portray a story unique to the people of Ngāti Toa and to Takapūwāhia, exploring Māori symbolism essential to Ngāti Toa and integrating Māori values with Landscape Architecture. This will connect people to the design, this particular place and to the environment and help achieve the goal of the project of creating a sense of unity, ownership and belonging, of Kotahitanga, Whanaungatanga and Kaitiakitanga.</p>

Download Full-text

Sustainable crowdfunding: insights from the project perspective

Baltic Journal of Management ◽

10.1108/bjm-02-2019-0079 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 15 (2) ◽

pp. 281-302

Author(s):

Natalia Maehle

Keyword(s):

Community Engagement ◽

Distinctive Feature ◽

Design Methodology ◽

Research Question ◽

Qualitative Approach ◽

Content Type ◽

Building Relationships ◽

Distinctive Features ◽

Sustainable Projects ◽

Depth Interviews

PurposeThis paper explores the peculiarities of sustainable crowdfunding from the project perspective. The research question is: what are the distinctive features of sustainable crowdfunding, in terms of crowdfunding motivation, platform choice, crowdfunding costs and relationships with backers?Design/methodology/approachThe current study follows a qualitative approach, through conducting in-depth interviews with representatives of sustainable projects, which have had successful crowdfunding campaigns. The selected projects represent various industries and crowdfunding models.FindingsSustainable entrepreneurs have both financial and non-financial motivations for crowdfunding. A distinctive feature is the importance of community engagement, since the community spirit of crowdfunding is well suited to sustainable projects. The choice of the crowdfunding platform is more complex for sustainable entrepreneurs, as they need to consider the platform's sustainability. Sustainable entrepreneurs also have to put more effort into their communication activities with potential backers, to compensate for the intangibility of sustainability claims. Moreover, they need to have a greater focus on building relationships with backers due to both the community spirit of their projects and legitimacy issues.Originality/valueThe current paper contributes to the limited literature on sustainable crowdfunding and the literature on funding of sustainable businesses and can act as a foundation for further research in this field. Current findings also have high practical value. Crowdfunding platforms may use the insights provided here to better meet the needs of sustainable entrepreneurs, while sustainable entrepreneurs can better understand what they need to pay attention to in their crowdfunding campaigns.

Download Full-text

Using University-Community Partnerships to Stem Environmental Inequities and Injustice

International Journal of Social Science Research ◽

10.5296/ijssr.v1i1.3588 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 1 (1) ◽

pp. 1 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Ralph Gallo ◽

Consuela Amos

Keyword(s):

Environmental Justice ◽

Community Engagement ◽

Survey Design ◽

Theoretical Perspective ◽

Computer Training ◽

Community Partnerships ◽

Community Resources ◽

Access To Technology ◽

University Community

The purpose of this paper, therefore, is to discuss the roots of the movement by reviewing the following: (1) theoretical perspective of community engagement, (2) the environmental justice movement and (3) the challenges of the environmental justice movement that can be addressed through effective collaborations between universities and the communities they serve. A survey design was used to collect and analyze the data. Two hundred out of four hundred and twenty five participants elected to participate in this study. Statistically significant differences were found in the perceptions regarding exposure to environmental waste, preventive technology, community resources, personal access to technology, community lab access, computer training classes and empowerment through technology.

Download Full-text