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Volume 9

Journal of Earth Science & Climatic Change

Climate Change Congress 2018

November 22-23, 2018

November 22-23, 2018 Bucharest, Romania

8

th

International Conference on

Environment and Climate Change

Susanne Borner, J Earth Sci Clim Change 2018, Volume 9

DOI: 10.4172/2157-7617-C6-054

Pathways to sustainability and environmental justice: A pluralistic perspective on environmental

risks, participation and capabilities

Susanne Borner

Goethe University Frankfurt, Germany

W

orldwide, there are still numerous cases where humans are exposed to environmental risks, both manmade and

natural, and where communities lack the ability to respond. Understanding pathways to reducing vulnerability requires

understanding why especially marginalized groups are often still excluded from environmental decision-making and/or lack

the capacity to participate. This research explores the determinants of participation behavior in the case of Huichapan, Mexico,

where the local community faces environmental and health risks as a result of climate change and environmental pollution.

It draws on the analytical framework of environmental justice, advocating a pluralistic perspective on the dimensions

distribution, participation, recognition and capabilities in achieving social change. Based on Sen and Hobfoll, a biographical

capability approach was developed to explore the processes whereby individuals develop the capability to engage in community

mobilization for environmental justice. Narrative biographical and semi-structured interviews with a total of 27 respondents

were conducted. Interviewees were chosen to reflect the socio-demographic composition of the study area as well as the

different participation behavior. Interviews were analyzed using qualitative content analysis. Results showed that pathways

to sustainability require going beyond a focus on the distributive justice. Creating resilient communities requires a better

understanding of the drivers of community participation and the interlinkages with individual capabilities. The case study

showed respondents’ capabilities were a result of biographical processes, generally linked to a sense of self-efficacy as a result of

past gains and losses in terms of individual resources such as confidence, knowledge, energy and social capital.

Biography

Susanne Borner has obtained her phd from the department of social sciences at goethe university frankfurt, germany. She is a consultant for gopa mbh, an

international development consulting, in the field of climate change and rural development. She has published on the perception of environmental and health risks,

risk communication, environmental justice and community participation in latin America, Europe and Asia.

Susanne.boerner1986@gmail.com