Research Brief on Just Transition (Ocean Nexus Group)
CREDITS
Andrés Cisneros-Montemayor
Brian O’Neill,
Matthew Schneider
Corey Ridings
Kurt Ellison
M. Nasir Tighsazzadeh
Reuben Martinez
Shana Hirsch
William Kammin
Leah Fusco
Mark Nepf
OVERVIEW
This report describes the conditions necessary to ensure a just transition to offshore wind
Insights were obtained from researchers at Ocean Nexus through discussions with Mark Nepf.
Broadly, these conversations asked interviewees what needs to be prioritized when implementing offshore wind equitably
ResearchBriefonJustTransition
AndrésCisneros-Montemayor
BrianOʼNeill
MatthewSchneider
CoreyRidings
KurtEllison
M.NasirTighsazzadeh
ReubenMartinez
ShanaHirsch
WilliamKammin
LeahFusco
MarkNepf
OceanNexusSpecialReport|2024
oceannexusorg
Introduction
Drawingontheinsightsfromadiversegroupofacademicsandpractitioners,thefollowing documentreviewsthecriticalfactorsnecessaryforajusttransitiontoOffshoreWind OSW Specifically,conversationswereheldwithAndrésCisneros-Montemayor,Brian OʼNeill,CoreyRidings,KurtEllison,LeahFusco,MatthewSchneider,M Nasir Tighsazzadeh,ReubenMartinez,ShanaHirsch,andWilliamKammin
Theseindividualsprovidedinsightfromahostofperspectives,including environmentaljustice,planning,andmanagement;oceanequity,oceanenergy,andthe blueeconomy;fisheriesmanagementandecosystemsustainability;maritimespatial planningandlabor;andTribalengagementandcommunityoutreach.Furtherdescriptions oftheirworkareavailableintheIntervieweeResearch&Expertisesection
ConversationsexploredwhatneedstobeprioritizedifOSWimplementationisto followajusttransition TheresultswerecategorizedintofouroverarchingthemesJobs, Degrowth,Equity&Inclusion,andTiming&Information)andarereviewedbelow.Main takeawaysareavailableinTable1.
Ajusttransition,asdefinedbytheInternationalLabourOrganization,representsthe “greening[of]theeconomyinawaythatisasfairandinclusiveaspossibletoeveryone concerned,creatingdecentworkopportunitiesandleavingnoonebehindˮImportanthere istheemphasisplacedonboththegreeningoftheeconomyandtheinclusionofimpacted individuals RegardingOSWimplementation,merelytransitioningawayfromfossilfuelsfor energyproduction(i.e.,“greeningˮ)isinsufficientfortheprocesstobeconsideredjust. Rather,justiceisonlyachievedwhenstakeholdersaremeaningfullyinvolved,andtheir interestsrepresented.
Table1.Maintakeawaysacrossfourthemes
Jobs
Clarityisneededaroundwhattheactual jobpotentialisforOSW
Degrowth
Equity&Inclusion
Timing&Information
OSWmustreplacefossil fuelsinanenergy portfolio, notmerelyaddtothem.
Equitymustbedefinedona case-by-case -basisand informedbystakeholders
OSWdevelopmentmustslow down,to allowstakeholders andinformationgaps (eg, jobprospects)tocatchup
Table2.NineIntervieweesandResearchExpertise
Interviewee
AndrésCisneros-Montemayor
BrianOʼNeill
MatthewSchneider
CoreyRidings
KurtEllison
M.NasirTighsazzadeh
ReubenMartinez
WilliamKammin
LeahFusco
ResearchExpertise
● Fisheries
● NaturalResourceEconomics
● Ecotourism
● MarinePolicy
● ClimateAdaptation
● OceanPolicy
● Sustainability
● Racism&SocialInequality
● EnvironmentalSociology
● JustTransition,RenewableEnergy
● EnvironmentalJustice&Activism
● Fisheries
● PublicHealth
● Sustainability
● BlueEconomy
● MaritimeLabor&Equity
● OffshoreRenewableEnergy
● RegionalPlanning
● CoastalZoneManagement
● BlueEconomy
● MarineRenewableEnergy
● ClimateAdaptation
● OceanPolicy
● Sustainability
● FisheriesManagement
● OffshoreEnergy
● BlueEconomy
● EnergyDevelopmentandJust EnergyTransitions
● EnvironmentalPolicyandPlanning
● ImpactAssessment
● ClimateJustice
● EquitableBlueEconomies
Table3.Theme:Jobs
Interviewee Jobs
AndrésCisneros-Montemayor
BrianOʼNeill
MatthewSchneider
KurtEllison
WilliamKammin
Regulationsorincentivesarenecessaryto ensurethatjobsaccruetothecommunity
Laborneedstobecomeacentralissuein discussionsabouttransitioningtoOSW (e.g.,promotethegreeneconomy).
Energysourcesshouldbecontrolledata locallevel(ie,thoseusingtheenergy shouldbeincontrol),empowering consumerstosaywhatlevelofextraction (andthereforeburden)theyare comfortablewith.
Communitiestakingontheburden(of OSWshouldbethosebenefitingfrom increasedlaborforceparticipation.
Withoutformalandthoroughconsideration, thepotentialforincreasedjobsrisks becomingexternalworkerscomingfor temporaryjobsandleavingupon completion,leavingthecommunityno betteroff
Laborpromisesneedtobesubstantiated Longtermjobprospectsespeciallyare missingfromtheconversation.
Providinggoodjobsisaprimaryinterest amongonce-industrialtowns.
ForreindustrializationthroughOSWtobe successful,itshouldbepresentedasan economicbenefit,notjustenvironmental. Manyresidentsaredubiousof environmentalsentimentsbecauseithas beenframedtothemasthereasonwhy jobswerelost
LeahFusco
Initiativesareneededtotraindiverse groupstogetjobsinOSW,soasnotto reinforcemale-dominatedworkforceof fossilfuelindustry.Initiativesmustinclude barrierstoparticipationfordiversegroups (e.g.,cost,childcare,location,etc.).
Jobretentionpoliciesareasimportantas jobtrainingprograms.Policies(e.g., childcare,flexibility,mentorship, anti-discrimination)canhelpdiverse groupsmaintainthejobsthatOSW provides
Considerationoflabormorebroadly(e.g., minimumwage,benefits,childcare,pay equity,etc)tosupport workersinjobsthat willincreaseasindustryactivityincreases (eg,retail,food,hospitality) Because thesejobsareoftenlowpaid,without benefits,andmorelikelytobefilledby womenormarginalizedindividuals,their proliferationrisksreinforcingexisting inequity
Table4.Theme:Degrowth
BrianOʼNeil
MatthewSchneider
CoreyRidings
KurtEllison
OSWmustbecompletelydivorcedfrom fossilfuelinterests Otherwise,wearestill reliantonthesameindustrialactors The goalsoflargeindustryplayers(eg,BP, Exxon)areincompatiblewithcommunity inclusiongoals.
Reduceexcessenergyusesandprevent theindefiniteminingofresourcesby outlawingplannedobsolescencein technology.
Ensurethatthejusttransitionisatransition andnotsimplyanaddition(ofenergy production) Makingenergycheaper shouldnotbethegoalofOSW–thegoal shouldbetoofflinefossilfuelsources whiledecreasingoverallconsumption Environmentalgoalsareonlyaccomplished ifthereisanationwidephaseoutplanin place.
Stabilizeenergyconsumptionbypromoting smallscalewindfarms LargescaleOSW encouragesthecontinuedoveruseof energy.
Renewableenergyisnotafinalsolution, wemustcommittousinglessenergy.
OSWmustbeaccompaniedbyplansto reduceoverallfossilfuelenergyusageand theremustbeplansinplaceto decommissionpriorenergyinfrastructure.
Table5.Theme:Equity&Inclusion
AndrésCisneros-Montemayor
BrianOʼNeill
MatthewSchneider
Beforedecarbonizingdevelopednations, thefocusmustbeoncountrieswithenergy insecurities
Communitybenefitssharingplansshould beinplacebeforeprojectimplementation.
Consultwithmarginalizedand disadvantagedcommunitiesearlyinthe process Justiceshouldbediscussedfrom thestart.
Whatcommunityinclusionwilllooklike mustbeclearlydefined Simplystatingitas animportantcriterionisinsufficient Communitiesshouldbeempoweredto steerwhileprovidedthenecessary resources(eg,funding,politicalinfluence, etc)todoso
Distributionalandproceduraljusticemust bediscussedfromtheverybeginning.
OSWisnotwithoutecological consequence,whichmustbeconsidered whenprojectsarebeingcited(ie,whowill theyburden?.
Communityinclusionobjectivesmust recognizethatcommunitiesarenot homogenousintheirpreferences Someonewillneedtomakeafinal decision,beitacommunitymemberor otherwise,meaningthereisapower structureresultinginwinnersandlosers
Inclusionrequiresunderstandinghow stakeholderswanttoengage,aswellas preventingoverlyinfluentialvoicesfrom dominatingdiscussions.Individualsnot trainedinequityprinciplesshouldnotbe assumingsuchroles–expertsarerequired
CoreyRidings
KurtEllison
M.NasirTighsazzadeh
ReubenMartinez
WilliamKammin
LeahFusco
EngagewithstakeholdersincludingTribes, coastalcommunities,labor,andport communitiesearlyandoften
Justiceinanenergytransitionrequiresthe useofacontext-appropriatedefinitionof equity(achievedthroughcommunity engagement) OSWgoalsshouldreflectthe distinctsocial,economic,andecological characteristicsofeachcommunity, acknowledgingtheirdiverseneedsand circumstances.
Encourageinterdisciplinarycollaborationin OSWdevelopment–plannersandplanning practicescanembedequityconsiderations throughoutallstagesoftheproject lifecycle
Tribeshaveyettobeadequatelyengaged Engagementshoulddevelopaworking relationshipbetweengovernments, involvingregularinteraction.Engagementis notachecklist
Allowthecommunitytodefineproject goals Doingsoensuresthatbenefits(eg, jobs)manifestinawaythatbestaidsthe community.Goalsneedtobeflexible,as communityneedswillchangeovertime RevenuegeneratedfromOSWneedstobe keptlargelywithinthecommunity Otherwise,itisjustanotherextractive sourceofenergy.
Promotingequityrequiresincorporatingit earlyatplanningstagesbutalso throughoutdevelopment,operation,and beyond.
Astheworkforce(andthereforepopulation) grows,thereisgreaterstressplacedon socialservices(healthcare,housing, education,etc.)andthelocalenvironment.
Howthiswillimpactthecommunityshould beconsideredandplannedforbeforeOSW developmentbegins Thismustinclude howspecificgroupswithinthecommunity willbeimpacteddifferently(women, racialized,Indigenous,disabled,LGBTQIA people,etc)
IfOSWplansaredesignedtopromote futuredevelopment(suchasinvestmentin infrastructureandexpertise),theymust considerandplanforhowthecommunity willevolveasaresult
Regardingcommunitychange,theremust becarefulattentionpaidtopower dynamics–whattheymean,howthey developed,andhowtheyimpactdifferent groupswithinthecommunity–asthiswill shapewhycertainfolksbenefitwhile othersdonot/areharmed.
Table6.Theme:Timing&Information
KurtEllison Communitiesneedtimetoresearch, understand,andthenengage
Betterdefinetheimpactsoflargescaleand deepwaterOSW.
ReubenMartinez
LeahFusco
StateandFederalgovernmentsarehastily pushingthedevelopmentofOSW,withlittle researchreviewinglocalenvironmental impacts TribalNationsarejustifiablywary, ifnotoutrightopposed,toproceedwith OSWdevelopmentundertheseriskyterms.
Informationneededtoassesstheimpacts ofoffshorewindondiversepopulations needstobegatheredanddatagapsfilled earlyintheplanningprocesstoensurethat projectimpactsareunderstood.
Immediateandlong-termimpactsof projectsinregionalspacesaswellasall alongthesupplychainandbeyond (impactsonclimatechangeandclimate justice)mustbeconsidered
IntervieweeResearch&Expertise
AndrésCisneros-Montemayorspecializesinappliedresourceeconomicsandisengaged in researchandpolicyonhumandevelopmentandtheBlueEconomy,includingartisanal and Indigenousfisheries,ecotourism,andemergingoceansectorsindevelopingand developedregions includingBelize,Canada,CentralAmerica,EastAsia,Mexico, Patagonia,theUSA,andWest Africa.
MatthewJeromeSchneiderworksintheareasofraceandracism,socialinequalities, environmentalsociology,andcommunityandcivicengagement Hismostrecentprojects consider howlocalstakeholdersinterpretandrespondtovariousenvironmentalissues, suchaspublic supportforexpansionofrenewableenergyproductioninthejusttransition.
BrianF.OʼNeillisanenvironmentalsociologistandethnographerfocusingon infrastructure,the politicsofclimatechangeadaptation,andsocialinequalities Hiswork seekstomobilizethe productiveintellectualtensionsattheintersectionsofsociology, politicalecology,scienceandtechnologystudies,andthepolicysciences Specifically,his researchrevolvesaroundthe problematizationofclimateadaptationpolicies
CoreyRidingsstudiesfisheriesandpublichealthissuesrelatedtocommunity sustainability.She hasworkedintheenvironmentaladvocacycommunitysince2011on effortsrelatedtoclimate change,WestCoastfishconservation,andecosystem-based management
KurtEllisonisaformermarinerwith15yearsofworkboatexperienceandanacademic backgroundinruralsociology.Hisresearchcentersonmaritimelaborintheblueeconomy, witha focusonequityintheoffshorerenewableenergysupplychain.
M NasirTighsazzadehstudiestherelationshipbetweenequityandoffshorerenewable energy, viewedthroughthelensofplanning Thisinvolvespromotingfairdistributionof benefitsand burdensandfosteringinclusivedevelopmentofoffshorerenewableenergyin coastalregions
ReubenMartinezstudiesrenewableenergywithinIndigenouscommunities.Specifically, Reuben workstoidentifyeachtribeʼsself-determinedinterestsinrenewableenergyand connectthemwith fundingopportunitiestoachievethosegoals
ShanaHirschisaSeniorResearchScientistintheDepartmentofHumanCenteredDesign and EngineeringattheUniversityofWashington.SheisalsoCo-DirectorofthePacific MarineEnergy Center,whereshecollaborateswithindustry,government,anduniversity researcherstounderstand innovationinmarineenergy
WilliamKamminstudiesoffshoreenergysystems,askinghownewenergyprojectscan provide equitywithintheblueeconomy Withafocusontheoffshorewindvaluechainand regulatory processes,WillaimstocontributetoequitablepolicyforthePacificstatesand accelerateoffshore winddevelopment.
LeahFuscoisageographerwhostudiesenergydevelopmentandjustenergytransitions Shehas exploredoppositiontoprojectdevelopment,consultationprocesses,andtheuse ofimpact assessments,strategicenvironmentalassessments,andgender-basedanalysis, particularlyinthe contextofclimatechangemitigationandjusttransitions.
ReviewofThemes
Jobs
ArecurringthemeacrossmanyconversationswasthepromiseofjobsthatOSWpurports. Specifically,thereisconcernaroundhowmanyjobswillbeproducedandwhetherthey represent long-term,sustainablesourcesofincomeforcommunitymembers Asofyet, thepotentialthat OSWdevelopmenthasforjobcreationisunsubstantiated Moreover,the jobsthataremostoften referredtobyOSWproponentsareconstructionjobs,whichareby naturetemporary.
OSWlabordemandfallsprecipitouslyfollowingconstruction,astheinfrastructure (eg,turbines) donotrequirefrequentmaintenance IfworkershopetouseOSW constructionasalong-term sourceofincome,itwillnecessitatethemmovingrepeatedly toworkondifferentwindfarmsas needed Thatis,arelativelysmallnumberofworkers couldmaintainseveral,distantwindfarms. Thisisproblematicforajusttransition,because inaimingtobringwealthintoahostcommunity, itrisksdisplacingworkersoutofthe community.
Conversely,intheshort-term,theworkforceisallbutguaranteedtogrow,aslabor demandsinthe earlystageswillbelarge Astheworkforce–andthereforethepopulation –grows,therewillbegreaterstressplacedonsocialservicesandthelocalenvironment Decision-makersmustconsider howthisstresswillimpactthecommunitybeforeOSW developmentbegins.Relatedly,this (initial)growthinworkforceandpopulationwill necessitateariseinsupportingjobs,suchas retail,food,andtransport.Typically,these jobsarelowpaid,withoutbenefits,andfilledby marginalizedindividuals(e.g.,women, peopleofcolor,disabled) Asaresult,OSWlabor developmentrisksproliferatinginequities elsewhereinthecommunity Plannersareadvisedto considersuchrepercussionswhen outliningcommunitybenefitagreements,toensurethatthese supportingjobsarealso guaranteedalivingwageandbenefits.
Toensureajustlabortransition,OSWdevelopersmustprovideanhonest assessmentofpotential jobs,separatedintoshort-andlong-term.Doingsowillprovide potentialhostcommunitieswiththenecessaryinformationtodecideifjob-creationisa worthwhilegoal Likewise,firmsmayfind itcost-effectivetohireexternalworkerswhoare alreadytrained Tobesure,thegoalsoflarge industryplayers(eg,BPandExxon)are likelyincompatiblewithcommunityinclusiongoals As such,theremustberegulationsin placetoensurethatlocaljobs–whethershort-orlong-term–gotolocalcommunity members,evenifthatmeansfirmsprovidingthenecessarytraining.To preventreplicating themale-dominatedworkforceofthefossilfuelindustry,jobtrainingshould include initiativestotraindiversegroups Additionally,retentionpoliciesshouldbeestablishedto
ensurethatcommunitymembersareabletostayinthepositionstheyhavebeentrained for.For instance,offeringbenefitssuchaschildcareremovesapotentialbarrierto workforceretention.
Inbrief,thecommunitymemberstakingontheburdenofOSWshouldalsobethose benefiting fromincreasedlaborforceparticipation Ajusttransitionmeansthatmoney generatedbythe community(fromlaborandfromservingasthehost)mustbelargely keptwithinthecommunity Otherwise,OSWrisksbecomingjustanotherextractivesource ofenergy.
Oncepotentialjobshavebeenestablished,laborunionsmustbeengagedtoensure thatworkersʼ needs(e.g.,payandbenefits)willberecognized.Finally,OSWenergy productionshouldbe controlledatthelocallevel,withhostcommunitiesdictatingthelevel ofextraction(ie,energy production)theyarecomfortablewith Doingsopromotesthe communityʼsagencyinthedecision processandreducespotentialburdens
Degrowth
Degrowth,orreducingnationalenergydemand,wasanotherleadingconcernaroundthe just transitiontoOSW.Putsimply,ajusttransitiondemandsatransitioninenergysources, notmerelyanaddition.ThepotentialindustryprovidersofOSWarealsoinvolvedwithfossil fuelextraction andplanstophaseinOSWarenotgenerallyaccompaniedbyplansto phaseoutfossilfuels When energysourcesareaddedtothegrid,coststoconsumersgo down,encouraginggreaterconsumption Makingenergycheaper,however,shouldnotbe thegoalofequitableOSWimplementation Rather,thegoalmustbetoofflinefossilfuel sourceswhiledecreasingoverall consumption.Whilerenewabletechnologyisimportant,it onlyaccomplishesenvironmentalgoals ifthereisanationwidephaseoutplaninplace. Thatis,wemustcommitnationallytousingless energyandfewerresources.Assuch,the transitiontowardsOSWneedstoemphasizedegrowthif itisindeedtobejust Intentionalityaroundreducingourrelianceonfossilfuelsand overconsumptionofenergy willbekey
Onepossiblesolutiontothisconcernistopromotesmall-scaleOSWfarms Doing sowould provideameasureofstabilityinenergyconsumptionbylimitingtheoverall (local)productionof energy.Likewise,megaprojectsshouldbeavoided,aslarge-scale OSWfarmswillinherently encouragethecontinuedoveruseofenergy.
Equity&Inclusion
Distributionalandproceduraljusticearekeycomponentsinensuringajust transition Distributionally,decision-makersneedtoconsiderwhowillbenefitandwhowill burdenfromthe placementofOSWfarms.Atthelocallevel,OSWisnotwithoutecological consequence:where farmsarecitedreflectswhowillbeburdened,andthuswhowill needtobecompensatedforthat burden(toensureequity).Tothisend,havinga transparentanddefinedcommunitybenefitssharingplaninplacebeforeproject implementationiscritical Vitaltodefiningthisplanisan understandingofpower imbalances Understandinghowtheseimbalancesmanifestandimpactthe communitywill provideinsightintowhycertainfolksmaybenefitwhileothersdonot.Finally,it isimportant thatthisplanbeadministeredbyanorganizationcommittedtothecommunityand notan industryrepresentative.
Globally,decarbonizationisanoften-citedgoalofOSW Reducingdemandforfossil fuelswill helploweranationʼscarbonemissions However,spendingmoneytohelp developednations decarbonizetheirenergygridisinherentlydichotomoustoequity Decarbonizationandequitydo notgohand-in-handwhentherearenationssuffering energyinsecurities.AjusttransitiontoOSW mustbeginbyidentifyingwhereenergy insecuritiesexist,asallcountriesneedtoachieveenergy securityifanyenergytransition istobeconsideredjust.
Distributionalequityshouldalsobeaconcerninfutureplanning Ensuringequity aroundOSW implementationmeansconsideringaprojectʼsentirelifecycle;thismeans planningthrougha projectʼsdecommissioning Theremustbeaplaninplacethatoutlines whoisresponsiblefora farmʼsdecommissioning,removal,etc.,toensurethatthe communityisnotunjustlystuckwith anotherburden.Withoutsuchaplan,the reindustrializationofcoastaltownswithOSWrisks causingfutureeconomicandecological inequities Similarly,thereneedstobeplanningaround whathappenstothecoastalarea thatthefarmoccupied Forinstance,willitbeconvertedtoan MPA,willfisherfolkand/or Tribesretaintherights?Planninghereisnecessarytoprevent burdeningfuture generationswithsuchissues
Regardingproceduraljustice,inclusionmeansmorethansimplyengagingwith stakeholders duringthedecision-makingprocess.Forajusttransition,adequateinclusion requiresthat communitiesbetheonessteeringtheprocess.Communitiesshouldbe providedwiththe knowledgeandresources(eg,funding,politicalinfluence,etc)they needtotakeownership
Doingsoensuresthattheirperspectivesarenotonlyheardbutincorporated–a prerequisiteto equity.Indeed,communityownershipiscriticaltoajusttransition. Nevertheless,inclusionisa difficultprocessbecauseitwilllookdifferentfordifferent
stakeholders.Howanindividualor communitywishestoengageinthisprocessisnot boundbyasetofguidelines.Forinstance,the experienceandknowledgethatfisherfolk andTribescancontributearelikelytovarybetweenthe two.Consequently,equitably implementingOSWcanonlyoccurafteradiscussionwith stakeholdersonhowtheywould liketobeincluded Thatis,theseconversationsmustoccurbefore plansaremade,sothat any/allplanningincludesthestakeholderswhowishtobeincluded In instanceswhere stakeholderinterestswerenotfullyconsidered,ensuringajusttransitionmay require startingfromscratch.Impactedcommunitiesshouldbethefirsttodefinewhat(their)OSW willlooklikeImportanthereistheassertionthattheseconversationsmustbesoughtafter. Holdingapublic commentperioddoesnotguaranteethatallaffectedpartieswillbeheard, becauseeconomic disparitiesbetweengroupsmaypreventsomefromattending Pursing stakeholdersforinputalso providesameasureofsecurityagainstcertaingroupswielding undueinfluenceovertheprocess Groupswithgreaterresources,suchastime,money, andpoliticalconnections,arebetterabletovoicetheirconcernsandinterestsduringthe decision-makingprocess.Itiscriticalthatthesepower imbalancesareunderstoodand accountedfor.Toensureequity,historicallyunderrepresented groups,suchasTribes, shouldbegrantedpriorityinthedecision-makingprocess Forinstance, speakingwith historicallymarginalizedgroupsfirstandallowingthattoinformsubsequent discussions withotherstakeholders
Critically,inclusiondoesnotendafterplanninganddevelopment Itisaprocessthat mustlastthe durationoftheproject.Inotherwords,effectiveengagementisnota checklistitembutalongtermworkingrelationship.Bothparties(e.g.,Tribalgovernment andStateagency)mustinteractregularlysothataworkingrelationshipdevelops.This ensuresbotheffectiveandequitableinput fromdisadvantagedgroups,aswellasthe opportunitytochangecourse Thegoalofinclusionis notsimplytonoteandachievewhat stakeholderswant–itmustalsoallowforflexibility,asa communityʼsneedswillchange overtime.
Alltold,equityandinclusionaremovingtargets.Decision-makersareadvisedto defineequityon acase-by-casebasis,ensuringthatgoalsmatchcommunitypreferences. Additionally,howasingle communitydefinesequityislikelytochangeovertime Decision-makersshouldconsiderhowthe communityislikelytoevolveasaresultofOSW implementation,inordertoanticipatechanges incommunity-definedequity Likewise, decision-makersshouldnothaphazardlyassumetherole ofdefining/promotingequity withoutpropertraining.Equity,likeplanningandimplementation, requiresexpertise.If OSWprojectsintendtopromoteequity,thenanequity/justiceprofessionalshouldbe present.
Timing&Information
Asitiscurrentlyproceeding,OSWdevelopmentismovingtoofastwithtoolittle information WhileTribalNations,fisherfolk,andcoastalcommunitieswanttobeincluded intheprocess,there isanoverwhelmingnumberoffactorseachmustconsider.Assuch,it isdifficultforthesegroups toweighonOSWwhentheyhavenotyetestablishedtheirown interestsandconcerns.Communitiesneedtimetoresearchandunderstand,priorto engagement Governmentspushing forOSWareaskingcommunitiestomoveforward withoutaclearideaofhowtheprojectwill impactthem,whichcreatesanequityissue ratherthansolvesone Meaningfulinvolvementisonly possibleifstakeholdersare adequatelyprepared,andequitableimplementationisonlypossibleif ithappensatthe desiredpaceofstakeholders.
Closelytiedtotheproblemoftimeisinformation.OSWrepresentsanewandlargely untested technology HowitwillactuallyimpactaTribalNationorcoastalcommunity,for instance,isnot yetcertain,makingitimpossibleforstakeholderstoeffectivelyweighin Therusheddevelopment ofOSWprojectsbyStateandFederalgovernmentsinthe absenceofresearchreviewinglocal environmentalimpactsleavesstakeholdersjustifiably wary.Assuch,manygroupsarehesitanttorushintosomethingthatlacksacleardepiction oftheeconomicandenvironmentalrisks.
GovernmentagenciespromotingOSWneedtoprovideclarityaroundthebenefits andburdensa communitywillfacefollowingOSWimplementation Thatis,governments mustbetransparent aboutthepotentialoutcomesofOSWdevelopmentandmustbeheld accountabletowhatever promisesaremade Thisincludesbothmoreinformationand informationinapubliclydigestibleformat(i.e.,absentofoverlytechnocraticjargon). Additionally,resourcesshouldbeprovidedto stakeholderswholackthetimeand resourcestosiftthroughthisinformationtoaidthemindefiningtheirpreferences.