Understanding the Complexities of Risk, Vulnerability and Stigma in Contaminated Environments and Overcoming Barriers to Remediation An overview of a new international collaborative research project Dr Irena L. C. Connon Email: i.l.c.connon@dundee.ac.uk University of Dundee, Scotland, and The University of Technology Sydney, Australia
Project Introduction
Background
Overview
Aims
A 4-Part Speed Talk
Relevance
Project Overview Focus: To enhance community engagement with risks associated with living in areas where local environments are contaminated by industrial pollutants and to enhance engagement in the remediation of contaminated lands in residential areas. Location: 2 residential urban areas in New South Wales, Australia, that are affected by a range of environmental contaminants
Duration: February 2016 – January 2018, with several weeks of intensive qualitative, fieldwork to take place between April and June 2017.
Project Background
A review of the existing scholarship has identified a need for further research into how the remediation industry and governments can better understand and engage members of contaminated communities in risk communication and remediation
Two preliminary surveys suggest a particular need for enhanced understanding and engagement with ‘vulnerable’ members of these communities
Why focus on understanding risk, vulnerability and stigma?
Analysis of survey data suggests that improving the engagement of community members, requires: Greater understanding of the socio-cultural origins of the production of vulnerabilities in this context Exploration of how particular stigmas have emerged that are associated with vulnerability and residence in areas affected by contamination Consideration as to how these issues can be actively addressed in policy and practices of remediation.
Project Aims 1.
Address existing scholarly and policy shortcomings via in-depth qualitative research to provide a more holistic picture of the human experience of environmental contamination
2.
Enhance community engagement with remediation of contaminated environments by addressing barriers to involvement through the research process itself as well through the outcomes
3.
Develop an on-going research partnership between UoD and UTS
4.
Develop a tool that can be effectively mobilised to other locations to enable remediation practitioners to engage effectively with local residents
5.
Contribute to existing scholarship on the human dimensions of environmental contamination via publishing findings in the relevant health, environmental management, hazard and disasters, and urban planning journals
Project Relevance
The project is being conducted as part of two major transdisciplinary projects:
Cleaning Contaminated Environments Using Effective Social Engagement,
CARESPACE: Designing built, natural and social environments for health, wellbeing and quality of life, A New South Wales Environmental Trust project
Australian focused, but has wide international relevance
Funded by NSW Environmental Trust and The Scottish Alliance for Geoscience, Environment and Society (SAGES)
Relevant to CECHR group interests in transformation and sustainability:
Its focus on the social and cultural dimensions of contaminant risk decision-making;
Development of policy and decision-making support tools that more effectively consider the vulnerabilities, values and heterogeneity of communities affected by the risks of contaminated land and groundwater in the Australian and international context
Transforming environments for sustainable futures and for improving human well-being