Participation in Environmental Decision Making as an Imperative for Democracy and Environmental Justice in Colombia

Abstract

Restrictions on the scope of government action by forcing authorities to act exclusively to the extent permitted by law are a guarantee against abuses of power when authorities’ decisions have environmental implications. Such control ensures that this becomes a reality because it provides a way by which to overcome administrative inefficiency and avoid departure from the essential aims of public institutions. Environmental commitment is necessary for denationalization of the state; it appears as a subsidiary to the initiative and participation of citizens, which, by shifting functions to the private sphere, is also linked to destatization strategies. In light of these assumptions, and the consideration that decisions should not be taken without the input of communities, this article advocates the inclusion of citizens’ voices in environmental policies and management. These issues are addressed from the perspective of Hans Jonas’ ethic of responsibility, with the aim to develop socially responsible and participatory projects.

Envisaging Participatory Management in Protected Areas: Local Response to Proposed Conservation Actions in Relation to Environmental Orientation

“…As regards the Agro-pastoralism category, the highest mean scores were recorded for the questions about the re-cultivation of local traditional varieties (including both fodder crops and other varieties, like fava beans) and the activation of the local Shepherd Cooperative. The only question of this category that scored under 4 (3,90), was that concerning the proposal of the gradual reduction in the number of sheep until it reaches about 75% of the current number. Regarding answers to the latter question, further statistical analysis showed that there is not significant differentiation (p>0.05) between farmers and the rest of the sample.…”

“…McAllister [1] has emphasized the importance of participatory processes to illustrate the complexity of environmental management issues, the involvement of local people in this process and the promotion of systems for the sustainable and equitable use of natural resources. Participation in decision-making has been encouraged as a means to promote the importance, the legality and enforceability of decisions taken [2][3][4][5], while, apart from the fact that strengthens the relationship among those who govern and those governed, has essentially the power to alter or even reverse the implementation of a particular policy [6][7][8].…”

Las consultas populares en Colombia: un mecanismo de participación política en disputa en el sector minero

“…En otras palabras, se trata de una transformación jurídico-política que 8 RODRÍGUEZ, 2021, p. 80. 9 ALZATE-MORA; RODRÍGUEZ; VARGAS-CHAVES, 2018, p. 29. 10 FIORINO, 1990 reconoce el rol de los ciudadanos como sujetos políticos con poder de incidencia en el Estado 11 .…”

Acciones de política pública para la participación política y la igualdad de las mujeres en el departamento de Santander (Colombia)

“…Al tomar en cuenta el rol que tiene la participación para la generación de un escenario que responda a los ideales de justicia (Rodríguez & Vargas-Chaves, 2018), y desde lo planteado en la Política Pública como acciones para la participación política de la mujer. Es necesario hacer especial énfasis en la capacitación, en la formación a través de talleres y formas diversas de transmisión de conocimiento empleando herramientas para la incidencia efectiva.…”