LOW-INCOME communities feel excluded by environmental decisions. They have little input into energy policy, planning of housing, transport, essential services, and green spaces.
They are also affected by high levels of traffic, poor air quality and pollution related illness, flooding and dumping, and development that favors tourists, students, and other groups who move through rather than staying to form permanent neighbourhoods.
These are just a few of the findings from a study that calls to increase consideration of the effects of planning and environmental policy on marginalised groups and areas.
The research was conducted by the Centre for Climate and Society at Dublin City University for the Centre for Environmental Justice, which is run by the Community Law & Mediation charity.
Sadhbh ONeill, leader author, stated that there was a significant information gap that hindered understanding of environmental justice.
Although environmental data was collected by some agencies, social deprivation data was gathered and analyzed by others, their correlations were not shown.
She stated that environmental justice is not an idea that is used in public policies.
Rose Wall, chief executive officer of Community Law & Mediation said that marginalised communities and groups felt excluded in planning and environmental deliberations due to the high costs of legal challenges or submissions and that their concerns were left out of final decisions.
She stated that further restrictions on participation under the Housing and Planning and Development Bill would only make matters worse.
She said that it will make it harder for communities to have a voice in shaping their environment and ensuring accountability in matters of environmental.
This will severely damage environmental oversight and democracy at an important time when access to justice must be increased rather than limited.
According to the report, older people, migrants, and travellers found it difficult to voice their opinions in decisions that affect their environment.
One example of inequalities is the difficulty for those who live in communities with low car ownership and poor public transport access to services and amenities.
They contribute the least to traffic fumes and often suffer the most because car-owners take advantage of amenities and services that are out of reach for locals.
Joe OBrien was Minister of State for Community Development and he attended the report’s publication. He said he was acutely conscious of the importance of strong local participation in decision making.
He expressed his desire to strengthen the Public Participation Network. This is a network that allows local authorities to interact with community groups in their local area.
Mr. OBrien stated that he would publish a review on the PPN system over the next few months, which would identify areas where additional support is needed.
He also mentioned that the law obliges local authorities to consult PPNs when developing local climate action programs.
Mr. OBrien claimed that he had commissioned research on the barriers that prevent people from marginalized backgrounds participating in their local PPN.
Once these barriers have been identified, we will take steps to remove or mitigate them. We will also give marginalised people greater access to local decision-making in climate and environmental policies.
