Achieving Environmental Justice in the United Kingdom: A Case Study of Lockleaze, Bristol

Bell, Karen

Abstract

Despite a number of seemingly progressive government initiatives, recent studies show environmental injustice continues to be a real and substantive problem in the United Kingdom. This case study focuses on one possible reason for this—the lack of inclusion of deprived communities in environmental decision-making. It uses a case study of Lockleaze, a deprived area of Bristol, drawing on findings from a literature review, participant observation, and interviews with local activists. The findings suggest that, though people in this particular community are interested and active on environmental matters, their achievements are limited largely as a result of the asymmetry of power in environmental decision-making “partnerships.” They seemed to have little influence over agendas and decisions and lacked access to environmental information. Useful policy responses to this would be to guarantee that local state agencies act in accordance with the expressed needs of people in deprived communities; to enforce the Aarhus Convention on environmental rights to information, consultation, and justice; and to train relevant professionals in community approaches to enable them to work constructively with deprived communities. © 2008, Mary Ann Liebert, Inc. All rights reserved.

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Oct 9, 2007
• Online Publication Date: Dec 30, 2008
• Publication Date: Jan 1, 2008
• Deposit Date: Mar 18, 2019
• Publicly Available Date: Mar 18, 2019
• Journal: Environmental Justice
• Print ISSN: 1939-4071
• Electronic ISSN: 1937-5174
• Publisher: Mary Ann Liebert
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 1
• Issue: 4
• Pages: 203-210
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1089/env.2008.0527
• Keywords: participatory decision-making, procedural justice, sustainability, community development
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/1006711
• Publisher URL: https://doi.org/10.1089/env.2008.0527
• Additional Information: Additional Information : This is the author's accepted manuscript. The final published version is available here: https://doi.org/10.1089/env.2008.0527
• Contract Date: Mar 18, 2019