Shifting the Balance in Environmental Governance: Ethnicity, Environmental Citizenship and Discourses of Responsibility

Abstract

This paper focuses on the notion of environmental citizenship in examining how black and minority ethnic groups (BME) in Britain talk about environmental “rights” alongside environmental responsibilities. This broader discursive context leads us to engage with two interpretations of sustainability promoting different policy and planning agendas—the environmental sustainability and just sustainability policy agendas—in understanding the multiple spaces of identity, power and agency in which BME communities respond to environmental issues in institutional and daily life. We conducted ten semi‐structured interviews with community key informants and ten focus groups with African‐Caribbean or Indian communities. We identified four environmental responsibility discourses in the participants’ talk, that were variously defined by issues of trust, social equity, off‐loading of responsibility and government intervention and that served to shift environmental responsibility away from the individual onto “institutional others”. We conclude by suggesting policy implications for the environmental and sustainability policy and planning community.

Understanding ethnic differences in perceptions, attitudes, and behaviours: a study of domestic water use in Sydney

“…These findings are consistent with a body of literature that shows that disparities exist between people from different ethnic backgrounds in level of concern about and behaviour towards environmental issues (Clarke & Agyeman, 2011;Department of Environment and Conservation, 2005;Greenberg, 2005;Johnson et al, 2004;Mohai, 2003;Whittaker et al, 2005). These findings are consistent with a body of literature that shows that disparities exist between people from different ethnic backgrounds in level of concern about and behaviour towards environmental issues (Clarke & Agyeman, 2011;Department of Environment and Conservation, 2005;Greenberg, 2005;Johnson et al, 2004;Mohai, 2003;Whittaker et al, 2005).…”

“…However, this finding is contrary to former studies where ethnic minority groups tended to be more exposed to certain environmental hazards and therefore more active in environmental protection (Clarke & Agyeman, 2011;Mohai, 1990;Whittaker et al, 2005). However, this finding is contrary to former studies where ethnic minority groups tended to be more exposed to certain environmental hazards and therefore more active in environmental protection (Clarke & Agyeman, 2011;Mohai, 1990;Whittaker et al, 2005).…”

“…The relatively low level of engagement with particular environmental issues among certain ethnic groups does not necessarily result from a lack of concern but could be ascribed to different environmental priorities, perceptions, or expression (Klocker & Head, 2013). Ethnic minority groups tend to give high priority to environmental issues such as pollution or neighbourhood environmental issues, while Anglo-Europeans are relatively more concerned about remote or global-level environmental issues (Clarke & Agyeman, 2011;Klocker & Head, 2013;Mohai & Bryant, 1998). Environmental perceptions and involvement often differ among ethnic groups-for example, in terms of perceptions about who is responsible for the environment (Kollmuss & Agyeman, 2002;Vavricka, 2013).…”

Environmental citizens: climate pledger attitudes and micro-generation installation

“…While environmental citizenship is arguably as much about rights as responsibilitieshence debates of "just sustainability"; (Agyeman and Evans 2004, Walker and Bulkeley 2006, Clarke and Agyeman 2011) -here the focus is on the first aspect: responsibility and capability or agency, specifically in relation to climate change and energy. Climate pledging would seem a classic form of environmental citizenship in many respects: both social and environmental, it is a public commitment to environmental action.…”

Just transitions and a contested space: Antarctica and the Global South

“…He has consequently developed the "Just Sustainability" paradigm which reinterprets sustainable development to restore the equity balance and firmly incorporate the need for intra-generational equity. Agyeman (Clarke & Agyeman 2011, p.1777 has described the paradigm as one that equally prioritises social inclusion, equity and justice in the delivery of sustainable development which it defines as: "the need to ensure a better quality of life for all, now and into the future, in a just and equitable manner, whilst living within the limits of supporting ecosystems. "…”