Domingue Simone Justine
Dr. Simone Justine Domingue is postdoctoral research fellow at the Department of Geography and Environmental Sustainability, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma, USA.
Environ Justice. 2022 Aug 1;15(4):271-278. doi: 10.1089/env.2021.0098. Epub 2022 Aug 9.
This case study analyzes how climate adaptation actors in coastal Louisiana undermine the justice concerns of coastal communities comprising Native American, Black, Southeast Asian, Hispanic, and working-class people. The homes, livelihoods, and cultures of these environmental justice (EJ) communities are threatened not only by climate disasters and ecological degradation, but also by adaptation projects proposed and backed by the state and federal governments and restoration nonprofit organizations. Drawing on 74 in-depth interviews, I analyze discourses from adaptation actors (government staff, scientists, engineers, and restoration advocates) and from coastal community leaders. Findings from the case study reveal how climate adaptation actors reference a socially constructed "bigger picture" to justify negative externalities of coastal projects while also undermining community concerns regarding their own survival. Findings also show how members of coastal communities discuss their survival, resist harmful narratives, and assert their indispensability. I conclude by connecting these themes to critical EJ research, particularly the racist underpinnings of utilitarian environmental decision making. This case study demonstrates the need to examine institutional actors' resistance to integrating justice into climate adaptation planning and action.
本案例研究分析了路易斯安那州沿海地区的气候适应行动者如何忽视了由美洲原住民、黑人、东南亚人、西班牙裔和工人阶级组成的沿海社区的正义诉求。这些环境正义（EJ）社区的家园、生计和文化不仅受到气候灾害和生态退化的威胁，还受到州和联邦政府以及恢复非营利组织提出并支持的适应项目的威胁。通过74次深入访谈，我分析了适应行动者（政府工作人员、科学家、工程师和恢复倡导者）以及沿海社区领导人的话语。案例研究结果揭示了气候适应行动者如何引用一个社会建构的“大局”来为沿海项目的负面外部性辩护，同时也忽视了社区对自身生存的担忧。研究结果还表明了沿海社区成员如何讨论他们的生存、抵制有害叙事并坚持自己的不可或缺性。我通过将这些主题与批判性环境正义研究，特别是功利主义环境决策的种族主义基础联系起来得出结论。本案例研究表明，有必要审视机构行动者对将正义纳入气候适应规划和行动的抵制。
