Table of Contents
Overview
Definition of Political Ecology
Political ecology is an interdisciplinary field that examines the interplay between political, economic, and social factors in relation to environmental issues and changes. Unlike apolitical ecological studies, political ecology emphasizes the role of power dynamics in shaping ecological outcomes, focusing on how these relationships are formed and transformed through environmental interactions.[2.1] The field addresses critical issues such as water allocations, land management, and _deforestation.[2.1] Initially, it gained recognition for exploring the impacts of large-scale resource development projects on subsistence-oriented communities, highlighting the interconnectedness of political, economic, and _environmental systems in a global context.[3.1] Emerging in the 1980s, political ecology applies a political economy perspective to environmental problems, asserting that ecological changes are deeply intertwined with political and economic structures.[4.1] It critically examines how economic frameworks and power relations drive environmental transformations, particularly in the context of resource development projects impacting subsistence communities.[3.1] Additionally, political ecology explores specific environmental issues, such as land use and resource extraction, which are influenced by political factors like colonialism and _globalization.[5.1]Key Concepts and Principles
Political ecology is a multidisciplinary field that examines the intricate relationships between social inequality and environmental degradation, emphasizing how power dynamics and knowledge influence the management and transformation of natural resources. This field employs qualitative social science methods, particularly from geography and anthropology, to analyze environmental struggles across diverse contexts.[7.1] A central tenet of political ecology is its focus on the upstream actors and actions that instigate environmental changes, as well as the downstream effects on communities affected by these changes.[8.1] It scrutinizes conflicts over natural resources, highlighting how power imbalances often dictate the terms of resource extraction and management, particularly in developing countries where financial power can overshadow local governance.[9.1] In postcolonial contexts, the cultural, social, political, and economic conditions that emerge in formerly colonized nations after the end of colonial rule are crucial for understanding contemporary environmental policies. These contexts frequently engage with themes of identity, power dynamics, and cultural hybridity, which reflect the complexities of life following colonialism and the enduring impacts of colonialism on societies.[10.1] By examining these postcolonial geographies, we can gain insights into the intricate spatialities and expressions of colonial power and identities. This understanding is essential for analyzing how these factors influence environmental governance in these regions.[10.1] Furthermore, a careful consideration of postcolonial geographies reveals the ways in which colonial practices have been encountered and resisted by colonized peoples in their daily lives, highlighting the forms of resistance that shape their environmental realities.[10.1] Furthermore, political ecology emphasizes the critical intersection of community advocacy, social justice, and political power in the pursuit of environmental justice. Marginalized communities, often disproportionately affected by environmental hazards, face systemic barriers that hinder their ability to advocate for equitable environmental policies.[15.1] The unequal distribution of environmental benefits and burdens not only reshapes societal power dynamics but also calls for a reevaluation of the relationships between political, economic, and ecological factors.[14.1] The role of social movements in influencing environmental policy is also significant within political ecology. These movements mobilize communities to address climate change and advocate for legal frameworks that promote environmental justice. They play a crucial role in amplifying public discourse on environmental issues and shaping policy agendas in response to global challenges such as climate change and biodiversity loss.[18.1] Through organized efforts, these movements demonstrate the power of civic engagement in driving societal change and influencing environmental governance.[17.1]In this section:
History
Early Foundations
Political ecology emerged as a critical research field within anthropology and related disciplines, focusing on the interplay between economic structures, power relations, and environmental change in an increasingly interconnected world. Initially, it gained prominence for its investigations into the practices and impacts of large-scale resource development projects, particularly in subsistence-oriented communities in the Global South.[42.1] This discipline distinguishes itself from apolitical ecological studies by emphasizing the politicization of environmental issues and phenomena, thereby integrating ecological social sciences with political economy.[43.1] The historical evolution of political ecology is closely linked to the development of environmental governance and policy. The emergence of the modern concept of the environment has been shaped by political controversies and has significant implications for governance and policy frameworks.[69.1] In the United States, the evolution of environmental policy reflects a complex journey marked by a growing awareness of ecological issues and the challenges of balancing economic, environmental, and social needs. This journey has involved not only regulatory victories but also struggles against political resistance and economic considerations.[70.1] Furthermore, the rise of Global Environmental Governance (GEG) is inseparable from the understanding of humanity's relationship with planetary conditions and constraints. This governance framework has developed in response to the need for a knowledge-informed approach to global change, highlighting the importance of integrating scientific understanding with policy-making.[71.1] Thus, the early foundations of political ecology are characterized by a critical examination of the socio-political dimensions of environmental issues, laying the groundwork for contemporary environmental governance.Development in the 20th Century
Political ecology began to take shape as a distinct field in the mid-20th century, building on earlier anthropological and geographical interests in the relationship between people and their environments. Early political ecologists often drew from cultural ecology to explore human-environment interactions, which laid the groundwork for the field's development.[45.1] The emergence of political ecology in the 1980s was particularly motivated by concerns over land degradation and development, as scholars sought to critically interrogate the power relations that influence access to natural resources.[44.1] A significant aspect of political ecology is its focus on historical narratives and colonial legacies, particularly in relation to indigenous identities and land use. For instance, studies in northeastern Nicaragua among the Miskito and Sumu peoples highlight how historical contexts shape contemporary resource management and ethnic rights movements. This intersection of history and ecology emphasizes the importance of understanding past societal relations with nature to address current social justice and environmental conservation issues.[65.1] Moreover, the impact of settler colonialism has been a critical theme within political ecology, as it often results in ecological domination and environmental injustices against Indigenous peoples. This dimension of political ecology examines how colonial practices have historically extracted resources at the expense of local communities' well-being, leading to calls for decolonization of socio-ecological conflicts.[67.1] Indigenous scholars have further argued that climate change exacerbates these injustices, as it transforms Indigenous relationships with the environment, undermining their cultural and knowledge systems.[68.1]In this section:
Theoretical Frameworks
Political Economy and Environmental Change
Political ecology has emerged as a field that critically examines the interplay between political economy and environmental change, drawing on a variety of theoretical influences. Since its inception in the 1970s, political ecology has been shaped by schools of thought such as Marxist political economy and human and cultural ecology, which provide foundational perspectives on how economic systems influence environmental outcomes.[85.1] Theoretical frameworks within political ecology emphasize the significance of human-environment interactions at multiple scales, from local to global, and how these interactions contribute to political and economic inequalities.[82.1] This focus on the socio-political dimensions of environmental change is further enriched by the introduction of concepts such as environmental justice (EJ), which seeks to address the disparities in environmental burdens faced by marginalized communities.[86.1] The radical environmental justice framework, for instance, incorporates elements of distributive justice, recognition, and procedural justice, highlighting the need to decolonize power relations to achieve equitable environmental outcomes.[86.1] Moreover, the concept of "critical moments" has been proposed as a tool for analyzing historical instances of human-nature relations, allowing for a heterodox approach to understanding environmental change.[84.1] This analytical lens is particularly relevant in the context of participatory nature and forest conservation efforts, which aim to integrate theory and practice in political ecology research.[84.1] As political ecology continues to evolve, it increasingly recognizes the importance of addressing global environmental challenges, such as climate change and resource scarcity, through a lens that prioritizes the needs of vulnerable populations.[94.1] The field underscores the necessity of inclusive and equitable environmental policies that consider the social and political dynamics shaping ecological outcomes.[88.1] By centering the experiences of marginalized groups, political ecology aims to illuminate the complex relationships between economic inequalities and environmental policies, ultimately advocating for justice in environmental governance.[92.1]In this section:
Key Themes In Political Ecology
Environmental Justice
Environmental justice is a critical theme within political ecology that emphasizes the fair distribution of environmental benefits and burdens, particularly for marginalized communities. It seeks to ensure that all groups have equal access to a healthy environment and that environmental policies do not exacerbate existing inequalities. This focus on equity is essential, as environmental hazards such as flooding, wildfires, and industrial accidents disproportionately affect vulnerable populations, often forcing them to relocate and causing significant economic and social upheaval.[126.1] Grassroots activism plays a pivotal role in the pursuit of environmental justice. By organizing and mobilizing communities, grassroots movements raise awareness of environmental issues that disproportionately impact marginalized groups and create pressure on decision-makers to enact change.[125.1] For instance, Sharon Lavigne, an environmental justice advocate, successfully halted the construction of a $1.25 billion plastics manufacturing plant in St. James Parish, Louisiana, through her grassroots organization, RISE St. James. This example illustrates how community engagement can lead to significant political decisions that favor environmental justice.[127.1] Moreover, grassroots activism is characterized by a bottom-up approach that empowers individuals and communities to voice their concerns regarding social, political, and environmental issues.[128.1] This collective action is crucial for achieving environmental justice, as it fosters a sense of community and shared purpose among participants, enabling them to challenge systemic inequalities and advocate for sustainable practices.[125.1] The relationship between economic inequality and environmental degradation is a significant concern in the context of environmental justice. Research indicates that when economically and politically powerful groups exploit environmental resources, the resulting harm disproportionately impacts poorer and marginalized communities, which often lack the power to influence decisions regarding environmental use.[130.1] Environmental hazards, such as pollution, climate change, and natural disasters, exacerbate existing inequalities by increasing vulnerability and limiting access to essential services and infrastructure for disadvantaged groups.[131.1] This intersection of environmental threats and social vulnerabilities highlights the need for policies that ensure a fair distribution of environmental benefits and burdens, thereby integrating human rights with ecological sustainability.[126.1] Environmental social justice emphasizes the importance of ensuring that all communities, particularly marginalized groups, have equal access to a healthy environment, which is essential for promoting fairness and equity in environmental policies.[126.1] Addressing these interconnected issues is crucial for mitigating the disproportionate impacts of environmental hazards on the poor and vulnerable, ultimately fostering a more equitable society.[131.1]Recent Advancements
Contemporary Research Trends
Political ecology has evolved significantly, particularly in the context of contemporary research trends that address the intricate relationships between environmental issues and socio-political dynamics. This field examines how economic structures and power relations influence environmental change, especially in an increasingly interconnected world. Initially, political ecology focused on the impacts of large-scale resource development projects in subsistence-oriented communities, but it has since expanded to encompass a broader range of environmental politics, including access, ownership, and resource use, and their implications for society and the environment.[164.1] Recent advancements in political ecology have prompted critical reflections on its key concepts and methodologies. Scholars have identified vital challenges facing the field today, leading to the development of new studies that respond to these concerns.[165.1] As the third decade of the 21st century approaches, the achievements of researchers in political ecology have been notable, although the field remains characterized by conflicting theoretical frameworks and diverse methodological approaches.[166.1] Moreover, the literature has increasingly recognized the importance of community participation as a mechanism for effective climate adaptation strategies. Studies have highlighted that community-based adaptation (CBA) conceptualizes adaptation as a social process rooted in the needs and values of those directly affected by climate challenges.[178.1] This approach emphasizes the necessity of engaging local communities in decision-making processes, which can lead to more effective governance and resilience-building in the face of climate change.[179.1]Case Studies and Applications
Recent advancements in political ecology have led to significant case studies and applications that highlight the intersection of environmental justice and grassroots activism. One notable example is the Biden administration's ambitious climate and environmental justice agenda, which aims to ensure that all communities have access to clean air and water, as well as living-wage jobs. This initiative marks a historic prioritization of environmental and climate justice across all federal agencies, resulting in billions of dollars invested in communities to address environmental justice concerns and the issuance of more protective regulations to rectify longstanding disparities in public health and environmental enforcement.[175.1] In addition to federal efforts, grassroots movements have played a crucial role in shaping environmental policy and advocating for marginalized communities. For instance, Sharon Lavigne, an environmental justice advocate, founded the grassroots organization RISE St. James in 2018 to combat the proliferation of petrochemical plants in her community. Her efforts culminated in successfully halting the construction of a $1.25 billion plastics manufacturing plant in St. James Parish, Louisiana, demonstrating the power of community engagement in the fight for environmental justice.[184.1] Moreover, the integration of Indigenous knowledge into contemporary biodiversity conservation efforts has proven beneficial in promoting sustainable resource management. Traditional practices such as rotational farming and controlled burning not only enhance biodiversity but also improve soil health and resilience against environmental stressors. This integration empowers Indigenous communities by recognizing their rights and contributions to environmental stewardship, leading to more effective management strategies that combine ecological data with traditional practices.[190.1] These case studies illustrate how recent advancements in political ecology, through both governmental initiatives and grassroots activism, are addressing environmental justice issues and fostering sustainable practices in various communities.In this section:
Critiques And Challenges
Limitations of Political Ecology
Political ecology faces several limitations and critiques that challenge its effectiveness in addressing environmental issues. One significant critique is its foundational reliance on the critique of dominant explanations of human-environment interactions, which often overlooks the complexities of power dynamics and the socio-political contexts that shape environmental outcomes. Critics argue that while political ecology aims to demonstrate how environmental conditions are contingent upon power relations, it sometimes fails to provide actionable solutions to the very problems it critiques, as highlighted by Sedgwick and Latour, who question the explanatory potential of critique itself.[208.1] Political ecology emerged as a field of study in the 1970s, primarily as a critique of dominant political science and Marxism, which often overlooked the impacts of ecological damage on marginalized communities and the working class, as well as the prevalence of environmental determinism.[206.1] This discipline is characterized by an empirically based approach that engages a diverse range of academics in examining environmental change and its relationship with human societies.[207.1] Political ecology seeks to demonstrate that environmental conditions, relations, and conflicts are contingent outcomes of power dynamics, which are instrumental to both political and ecological change.[207.1] Political ecologists argue that the nature, causes, and effects of environmental change—such as climate change, food scarcity, land degradation, deforestation, pollution, water shortages, biopiracy, and biodiversity loss—are inherently political and ecological, necessitating an analysis that considers the political-economic and ecological processes framing these issues.[207.1] However, critiques of political ecology suggest that its emphasis on political economy may not fully capture the diverse ecological perspectives essential for a comprehensive understanding of environmental issues, potentially leading to an overly deterministic view that underestimates the agency of local communities in shaping their environmental realities.[206.1] Political ecology examines the interconnectedness between political, economic, and social factors and environmental issues, emphasizing that environmental degradation cannot be understood in isolation from these contexts.[210.1] This interdisciplinary field blends ecological and social sciences with political economy, exploring various topics such as conflicts over natural resources, the marginalization of certain groups, and the development of environmental identities and movements.[210.1] The dynamics of political ecology often involve disputes related to the extraction or contamination of natural resources, as well as movements advocating for distributive equity of environmental benefits and harms.[211.1] Furthermore, power imbalances frequently accompany the financing of projects in regions with limited economic, political, and social control, enabling those with financial power to dictate the management of natural resources and the processes of extraction.[211.1] Thus, political ecology must address not only ecological concerns but also the socio-economic structures that perpetuate these challenges.[210.1] In recent years, grassroots political movements have transformed from peripheral players into central forces shaping policy agendas. These movements have utilized social media platforms to revolutionize their organization, mobilization of resources, and exertion of pressure on policymakers, achieving notable policy victories across the political spectrum.[216.1] The climate justice movement exemplifies this influence, demonstrating how grassroots activism can shift the Overton window—the range of policies considered acceptable within mainstream discourse—on critical environmental issues.[216.1] However, these movements often encounter significant challenges, particularly in the form of political pushback from established authorities. Governments frequently resist the changes proposed by these activists, often driven by fears of economic repercussions.[214.1] This resistance underscores the complexities that grassroots movements face in navigating the broader political landscape, highlighting the limitations inherent in their efforts to effect change within established political frameworks.[214.1]Future Directions
Future research in political ecology is increasingly influenced by critiques from scholars such as Eve Kosofsky Sedgwick and Bruno Latour, who have raised significant questions regarding the dominant epistemological role of critique within academia. Sedgwick's work, particularly in "Paranoid Reading and Reparative Reading," challenges traditional methodologies and highlights the limitations of critique in terms of its explanatory and reparative potential.[217.1] Similarly, Latour seeks to transform political ecology by redirecting focus from presumed damages to 'nature' towards the unexamined scientific and social processes that contribute to the stabilization of identities for both people and things. He advocates for an expanded political representation that encompasses these processes, aiming to establish a 'parliament of things' that would articulate the interests of both human and nonhuman entities.[218.1] This perspective necessitates a critical examination of the frameworks employed in environmental politics, emphasizing the development of a formulation of voice that adequately represents a broader array of interests.[220.1] Moreover, there is a growing recognition of the need for a more experimental and speculative approach within political ecology. This perspective encourages scholars to explore theoretical frameworks that can facilitate innovative methodologies, allowing for a deeper understanding of socionatures.[219.1] By embracing these critiques and methodologies, future research can better articulate the interests of both human and nonhuman actors, fostering a more inclusive environmental politics that reflects the complexities of contemporary ecological challenges.[220.1]Global Context
Political Ecology in the Global South
Political ecology in the Global South is characterized by the intricate interplay between environmental degradation, social inequality, and cultural narratives. Research indicates that cultural dimensions significantly influence community responses to climate change and environmental issues. For instance, Geoghegan and Leyson (2012) emphasize the necessity of understanding cultural influences to grasp how individuals and communities react to climate change, suggesting that cultural narratives can shape political ecology outcomes in diverse settings.[251.1] Furthermore, the integration of Indigenous knowledge and traditional ecological practices through community-based participatory research has been shown to enhance social responses to environmental changes, thereby fostering resilience and mobilization within affected communities.[252.1] The impacts of climate change extend beyond environmental concerns, threatening cultural identities, community cohesion, and a sense of place, which are vital for the livelihoods of many in the Global South.[253.1] This cultural vulnerability is compounded by economic factors, as the relationship between economic growth, foreign direct investment (FDI), and environmental degradation has been extensively studied. Evidence suggests that while many developed nations have adopted policies to align economic growth with environmental sustainability, developing countries often face challenges in achieving similar compatibility, leading to increased environmental degradation.[257.1] Moreover, the intersection of social inequality and environmental degradation is particularly pronounced in the Global South. Environmental hazards disproportionately affect marginalized communities, exacerbating existing social inequalities and creating a vicious cycle of poverty and vulnerability.[261.1] For example, the contamination of water supplies due to industrial activities has severe health implications for local populations, illustrating the distributive injustices inherent in environmental policies.[263.1] The power dynamics at play often favor economically and politically powerful groups, resulting in environmental harm concentrated in less affluent communities.[262.1] To address these interconnected issues, policies promoting environmental justice and equitable access to resources are essential. Such policies must prioritize inclusive decision-making processes to tackle the root causes of both environmental degradation and social inequality.[260.1] The field of political ecology thus serves as a critical framework for understanding these dynamics, highlighting the need for an interdisciplinary approach that considers the political, economic, and social contexts of environmental issues in the Global South.[267.1]Impact of Globalization on Environmental Issues
Globalization has significantly influenced environmental issues, particularly through the lens of political ecology, which critically examines the interplay between economic structures, power relations, and environmental change. This field emerged in the 1980s, initially focusing on land degradation and development, and has since evolved to address broader concerns regarding the distribution of environmental costs and benefits among different social actors.[245.1] Political ecology serves as a framework for analyzing human-environmental relations, linking macro-level political economic processes with micro-level human ecological aspects.[246.1] The dynamics of globalization have led to increased environmental conflicts, particularly over natural resources. These conflicts often arise from power imbalances where economically powerful entities impose their agendas on communities with limited control over their resources.[255.1] As globalization facilitates the extraction and contamination of natural resources, it also prompts movements advocating for distributive equity in environmental benefits and harms.[255.1] International organizations, particularly the United Nations, have played a pivotal role in international environmental governance, promoting collaboration among nations to address pressing environmental challenges. Since the 1972 Stockholm Conference, the UN has been instrumental in establishing frameworks such as the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), which leads key initiatives like the Global Environment Outlook that assesses the state of the environment and informs policy-makers.[264.1] Significant agreements, including the 1985 Vienna Convention, the 1987 Montreal Protocol, and the 1992 Rio Earth Summit's Agenda 21, exemplify the UN's efforts to influence national policies on environmental governance and have led to notable milestones in environmental protection.[265.1] The Paris Agreement is a landmark achievement in the multilateral process of global climate governance, showcasing a high level of inclusiveness and feasibility grounded in scientific principles. It establishes a global objective to limit the increase in the global average temperature to well below 2 degrees Celsius, thereby directing efforts towards a green and low-carbon transition.[283.1] The long-term effectiveness of the Paris Agreement hinges on two critical factors: first, the successful implementation of the individual goals set by the parties, known as Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), which are essential for achieving the overarching goals of the Agreement; and second, the inclusion of mechanisms that facilitate the deepening of commitments over time while ensuring high compliance among the parties involved.[282.1] Thus, while globalization poses challenges to environmental sustainability, it simultaneously creates opportunities for collaborative governance and the advancement of sustainable practices across national borders.In this section:
Cultural IdentitiesLivelihoodsEconomic GrowthEnvironmental SustainabilitySocial Inequalities
Methodological Approaches
Qualitative and Quantitative Methods
Political ecology employs a diverse range of qualitative and quantitative methods to analyze the complex interactions between human societies and their environments. One of the foundational methodological principles in political ecology is its integrative approach, which combines various theoretical, topical, and conceptual frameworks to evaluate human-environment interactions effectively.[288.1] This integrative perspective allows researchers to ground their analyses in a wide-ranging understanding of political ecology, equipping them with a diverse toolkit for addressing environmental issues.[288.1] Qualitative methods in political ecology play a crucial role in examining the intricate relationships between environmental change and socio-political dynamics. These methods are particularly highlighted in discussions surrounding feminist and mixed approaches within the field, which prioritize relational webs over linear chains of explanation when analyzing environmental policies and practices.[289.1] This shift in methodological focus underscores the importance of understanding the interconnectedness of social and environmental factors, thereby providing a more comprehensive framework for research in political ecology.[289.1] On the other hand, quantitative methods are utilized to assess the impacts of economic structures and power relations on environmental change. Political ecology has historically examined large-scale resource development projects, particularly in subsistence-oriented communities, to understand how these projects affect local environments and social structures.[291.1] By employing both qualitative and quantitative methods, political ecology can provide a comprehensive analysis of the factors driving environmental change and the implications for different communities.Participatory Research Techniques
Participatory research techniques in political ecology emphasize the importance of integrating local knowledge and fostering community engagement to effectively address environmental issues. This approach involves scrutinizing not only policy design but also the political, economic, and social factors that influence the adoption and enforcement of environmental agreements.[305.1] Furthermore, content analysis is utilized to deepen the understanding of the alignment between global ecological goals and national political agendas, systematically evaluating these relationships to inform more effective environmental strategies.[305.1] The field of political ecology applies a systems perspective to understand the ecological ramifications of political and economic practices, examining both macro- and microenvironments. This perspective allows researchers to identify the actors and actions responsible for environmental changes, as well as those who are impacted by such changes.[306.1] By analyzing the factors and processes that drive environmental changes, particularly those stemming from capitalist economic processes and power relations, political ecology provides a critical lens through which to view environmental issues.[307.1] Participatory research techniques also facilitate dialogue among diverse stakeholders, as exemplified by projects like the Social Psychology and Economics in Environmental Research (SPEER), which connected researchers across various disciplines to advance collaborative research on environmental problems.[309.1] This interdisciplinary approach is crucial for addressing complex ecological challenges, as it fosters a deeper understanding of the social and political dynamics that shape environmental outcomes.[310.1] Political ecology is an academic discipline that investigates the relationships between political, economic, and social factors and their impact on environmental issues and changes. This field is distinct from apolitical ecological studies as it emphasizes the politicization of environmental issues and phenomena.[311.1] Political ecology encompasses a wide range of studies that integrate ecological social sciences with political economy, thereby providing a comprehensive framework for understanding these complex interactions.[311.1] Through this approach, researchers can analyze how political and economic influences shape methodologies in ecological research, reflecting the diverse ways these factors manifest in contemporary studies.[311.1]In this section:
References
[2] Political Ecology - an overview | ScienceDirect Topics — Political Ecology is defined as an interdisciplinary field that focuses on power relationships and how they are shaped, sustained, and transformed through interactions with the environment. It examines issues such as water allocations, land management, and deforestation, emphasizing the connection between political, economic, and environmental systems. AI generated definition based on
[3] Political ecology | Open Encyclopedia of Anthropology — Political ecology is a critical research field within anthropology and related disciplines that examines how and why economic structures and power relations drive environmental change in an increasingly interconnected world. Initially it was most well-known for investigating the practices and impacts of large-scale resource development projects in subsistence-oriented communities in the Global
[4] Political Ecology - an overview | ScienceDirect Topics — Political ecology emerged in the 1980s as an interdisciplinary field that analyzed environmental problems using the concepts and methods of political economy. A central premise of the field is that ecological change cannot be understood without consideration of the political and economic structures and institutions within which it is embedded. The nature-society dialectic is the fundamental
[5] What is The Concept of Political Ecology? - The Interfaith Center for ... — Political ecology is also concerned with these issues, but it applies more specifically to environmental issues such as land use or resource extraction that have been shaped by political factors such as colonialism or globalization. The study of urban political economy and ecology is an important one.
[7] Political Ecology | Crawford School of Public Policy — The field of political ecology enables us to examine how power and knowledge influence the way that natural resources and the environment are used, managed, contested and transformed. Political ecology uses qualitative social science methods, primarily drawn from geography and anthropology, to examine how environmental struggles play out in a wide range of settings.
[8] Political Ecology - an overview | ScienceDirect Topics — Political Ecology: Natural versus Cultural Landscapes. Political ecology applies a system's perspective to understanding the ecological ramifications and sequelae of political economic inspired practices and policy on both macro- and microenvironments. It looks upstream at the actors and actions responsible for setting environmental changes in motion, and downstream at those subject to such
[9] Political Ecology and Environmental Conflicts: The Struggle Over ... — Political Ecology and Environmental Conflicts: The Struggle Over Natural Resources — Harvard ALI Social Impact Review The behavior and dynamics of political ecology often concern disputes and conflicts related to the extraction or contamination of natural resources; movements that seek distributive equity of environmental benefits and harms; or discursive debates, especially in developing countries, over competing proposals about laws and policies for the regulation of the use of natural resources (Bryant, 1998). Power imbalances often accompany the financing of projects in countries that have little economic, political, and social control, enabling those with financial power to establish project roadmaps that allow them to manage in a controlled manner their extractive processes, the management of natural resources, and how they can be developed with a putative goal of avoiding environmental conflicts in a manner to preserve ecosystems for the future.
[10] Postcolonial contexts - (World Literature II) - Fiveable — Postcolonial contexts refer to the cultural, social, political, and economic conditions that arise in formerly colonized nations following the end of colonial rule. These contexts often explore themes of identity, power dynamics, and cultural hybridity, reflecting the complexities of life after colonialism and the lasting effects of colonialism on societies. Understanding these contexts is
[14] Understanding Modern Political Ecology: Power, Inequality, and ... — Third, the unequal distribution of environmental benefits and burdens has significant political consequences, reshaping power dynamics within society. Areas of science. In addition to these assumptions, political ecology seeks to critique and offer alternatives to the relationships between environmental, political, economic, and social factors.
[15] Environmental Justice and Marginalized Communities - ArcGIS StoryMaps — Marginalized populations, often defined by race, income, or geography, disproportionately bear the brunt of environmental hazards such as pollution, toxic waste, and climate change impacts. These communities frequently face systemic barriers that limit their ability to advocate for cleaner environments, healthier living conditions, and
[17] The Role of Social Movements in Addressing Climate Change — These movements not only highlight the social implications of climate change but also strive to influence the legal frameworks that govern environmental policies. Overall, the intersection of climate change and social movements illustrates the power of civic engagement in driving societal change, emphasizing the critical role that organized efforts play in influencing climate change law and policy. Key social movements influencing climate change policy have emerged in response to the urgent need for global action against environmental degradation. Ultimately, the interaction between legal frameworks and climate change social movements shapes the landscape of environmental policy. Social movements engaged in climate change activism significantly shape policy agendas by amplifying public discourse surrounding environmental issues.
[18] The Power of Protests: Climate Change Edition - ArcGIS StoryMaps — The Political Role of Protests and Social Movements to Address Climate Change The Political Role of Protests and Social Movements to Address Climate Change ... these groups have an impact on climate change policy, transform the public's views toward environmental issues, and encourage activists around the world, building a worldwide environment
[42] Political ecology - Open Encyclopedia of Anthropology — Political ecology is a critical research field within anthropology and related disciplines that examines how and why economic structures and power relations drive environmental change in an increasingly interconnected world. Initially it was most well-known for investigating the practices and impacts of large-scale resource development projects in subsistence-oriented communities in the Global
[43] Political ecology - Wikipedia — Political ecology is the study of the relationships between political, economic and social factors with environmental issues and changes. Political ecology differs from apolitical ecological studies by politicizing environmental issues and phenomena.. The academic discipline offers wide-ranging studies integrating ecological social sciences with political economy in topics such as
[44] Political Ecology - an overview | ScienceDirect Topics — 26.3.1 Political ecology of water. Political ecology is a field that critically interrogates the nature-society relations, particularly looking at the power relations that intersect and affect access to natural resources, in order to reveal disparities and injustices in the distribution of costs and benefits (Robbins, 2012).It emerged in the 1980s to address land degradation and development
[45] Sage Reference - Green Politics: An A-to-Z Guide - Political Ecology — Although interest in the relationship between people and their environments has a long and rich history in anthropology and geography, the term political ecology officially came into use in the mid-20th century. Among early political ecologists, many drew on the intellectual contributions of cultural ecology to examine human-environment
[65] Historical Political Ecology: An Introduction - Academia.edu — This introduction to historical political ecology examines the intersection of indigenous identities, land use, and political struggles in northeastern Nicaragua, particularly among the Miskito and Sumu peoples. It argues for the necessity of understanding how historical narratives and colonial legacies shape contemporary resource management and ethnic rights movements, emphasizing the importance of integrating historical perspectives into political ecology to uncover the complexities of culture and power in postcolonial contexts. 11 At the risk of establishing a counterproductive boundary around a heterogeneous approach, I suggest that a historical political ecology can be characterized as a field-informed interpretation of society-nature rela- tions in the past (e.g., material, ideological, legal, spiritual), how and why those relations have changed (or not changed) over time and space, and the significance of those interpretations for improving social justice and nature conservation today.
[67] From the Environmentalism of the Poor and the Indigenous Toward ... — The long-lasting history of colonial environmental extraction against communities’ well-being is opposed by people who are at the core of social, environmental, and cultural injustices in different geographies and, who call for the decolonization (Escobar, 2008; Maldonado-Torres, 2008) of socio-ecological distribution conflicts (Martinez-Alier, 2002; Temper, 2019), with or without using those words. The above stated words by Indigenous peoples bring into focus spiritual and identity relationships as an important angle in decolonial environmental justice research, precisely because traditional cultural significance of the people and the environment in different places strongly oppose to the continuous domination of colonial relations embedded in extractive and industrial tendencies (Escobar, 2008; Maldonado-Torres, 2008).
[68] Environmental colonialism, digital indigeneity, and the politicization ... — Indigenous scholars have made similar arguments, describing how climate change impacts Indigenous peoples as both an effect and a perpetuation of colonialism (e.g. Whyte, 2017). Climate change is rapidly transforming Indigenous relations to the environment in ways that undermine Indigenous cultural and knowledge systems (Whyte et al., 2018). By
[69] The Birth of the Environment and the Evolution of Environmental Governance — This chapter explores the emergence of the modern concept of the environment, its evolution in political controversy, and its linkages to governance and policy.
[70] The Evolution of Environmental Policy in the U.S. — The Evolution of Environmental Policy in the U.S. The evolution of environmental policy in the United States is a complex journey that reflects the nation’s growing awareness of ecological issues and its efforts to address them through legislation and regulation. The story of U.S. environmental policy is not merely one of regulatory victories; it also involves struggles with political resistance, economic considerations, and complex federal-state dynamics. In conclusion, the evolution of environmental policy in the United States reflects the complexity of balancing economic, environmental, and social needs. Addressing climate change has been one of the most challenging aspects of U.S. environmental policy. This ongoing policy evolution reflects the complexities and contentious nature of addressing climate change, which continues to be a focal point for both national and global environmental strategies.
[71] PDF — GLOBEGOV is a historical study of humanity's relation to planetary conditions and constraints and how it has become understood as a governance issue. The key argument is that Global Environmental Governance (GEG), which has arisen in response to this issue, is inseparable from the rise of a planetary Earth systems science and a knowledge-informed understanding of global change that has
[82] Theoretical frameworks in political ecology and participatory nature — Theoretical frameworks in political ecology and participatory nature/forest conservation: ... the political response and key concepts', confines itself to the analysis of environmental changes involving 'human-environment interaction' at different scales (ranging from local to global) that contributes to 'political and economic inequalities
[84] Theoretical frameworks in political ecology and participatory nature — This article begins with reflecting on theoretical fluidity that prevails in the existing political ecology frameworks. It has a twin aspiration: introduction of a tool termed as critical moment analysis in the context of a contemporary nature/forest conservation approach; and combining theory and practice together in political ecology research.
[85] Theoretical Influences and Recent Directions | SpringerLink — Overview Although political ecology (PE) has a relatively short history in research and university teaching, the field is the result of a range of theoretical influences. In this chapter, we introduce some of the main schools or ways of thinking that have influenced political ecology since the inception of the field in the 1970s; Marxist political economy, human and cultural ecology
[86] Reading radical environmental justice through a political ecology lens — Based on work by political philosophers in the radical justice tradition – such as Fraser, Young and Honneth – a 'radical environmental justice framework' has been established within EJ, focusing on three core elements: distributive justice, recognition and procedural justice. In this article, we investigate interfaces between environmental justice (EJ) and political ecology (PE). Secondly, we found that although recognition is a useful perspective for both radical EJ and PE approaches, it includes power relations that may need to be decolonized in order to achieve this aspect of justice. Nevertheless, Holifield recognizes contributions from critical and radical scholars from the early history of EJ, noting that by the turn of the millennium, such contributions ‘had set the stage for deeper engagements between political ecology and alternative approaches to environmental justice’ (Holifield, 2015: 589).
[88] Political Ecology: Unpacking the Politics of Environmental Science ... — Ecology, Environment and Urban Development Ecology, Environment and Urban Development Political ecology has significant implications for global environmental policies, particularly in addressing issues of resource distribution and environmental justice. By examining the social and political dynamics that shape environmental outcomes, this field provides valuable insights for addressing pressing ecological challenges. From Marxist perspectives to deep ecology and social movements, political ecology encompasses a diverse range of approaches that highlight the need for inclusive and equitable environmental policies. As we navigate the complexities of global environmental governance, political ecology reminds us of the importance of addressing power imbalances, promoting environmental justice, and ensuring that all voices are heard in the decision-making process. Ecology, Environment and Urban Development
[92] PDF — • Lower coping capacity • Lower access to infrastructure • Lower access to prevention services • Inequality of opportunity • Inequality of income • Higher vulnerability • Higher exposure • Disproportionate impact of environmental hazards on the poor and vulnerable groups • Increased inequalities within and between countries Environmental hazards: • Pollution • Natural resource degradation • Climate change and natural disasters • Conflicts The key message of this chapter is that environmental degradation (pollution, exploitation of natural resources, natural hazards and climate change) and related conflicts disproportionately impact the poor and disadvantaged (as well as poorer countries) and can exacerbate inequality of opportunity and outcome both within and among countries.
[94] Five Principles for Advancing Racial, Economic, and Health Justice ... — States, which play a critical role in responding to climate change, should approach climate policy with a commitment first and foremost to the people and communities most impacted and with the fewest resources to respond. Prioritize climate change adaptation and climate resilience actions that protect the health, safety, and well-being of those most vulnerable to climate impacts by ensuring adaptation-specific programs center the needs of vulnerable populations; upgrading and building new climate-resilient infrastructure in places with high concentrations of vulnerable populations; and integrating climate change considerations into policy decisions for the economic and health security programs on which vulnerable populations rely.
[125] The Role of Grassroots Activism in Achieving Environmental Justice — The Role of Grassroots Activism in Achieving Environmental Justice Exploring the crucial role of grassroots activism in the ongoing struggle for environmental justice: A call to action for a more sustainable and equitable future. This example shows how grassroots activism can be a powerful tool for achieving environmental justice. Despite these challenges, grassroots activism remains an important tool for achieving environmental justice. Grassroots activism is a powerful tool for achieving environmental justice by raising awareness and creating opportunities for collective action. To wrap up the discussion, achieving environmental justice requires collective action from all levels of society, including grassroots activism. Through organizing and mobilizing communities, grassroots activists can bring attention to environmental issues affecting marginalized communities and create pressure on decision-makers to take action.
[126] 10 Examples of Environmental Social Justice Issues — 10 Examples of Environmental Social Justice Issues Environmental Social Justice Issues Environmental social justice focuses on the fair distribution of environmental benefits and burdens, ensuring that all communities, especially marginalized groups, have equal access to a healthy environment. Environmental social justice also seeks to integrate human rights with ecological sustainability by ensuring that environmental policies do not contribute to further inequality. Environmental Social Justice Issue Examples Environmental hazards such as flooding, wildfires, and industrial accidents often force vulnerable communities to relocate, resulting in economic and social upheaval. Environmental social justice is essential in ensuring that fairness and equity are at the forefront of environmental policies. © 2025 Together for Social Justice Privacy Policy | Cookie Policy| Terms of Use
[127] How Grassroots Activists Are Fighting for Environmental Justice in the ... — Today, Nalleli continues to fight for environmental justice in her community and around the country. Seeking to curb the proliferation of petrochemical plants in her community, Sharon founded the grassroots environmental advocacy organization RISE St. James in October 2018. As exemplified by these stories, the fight for environmental justice in the United States depends heavily on the grassroots engagement of communities. Thanks to the extraordinary efforts of Goldman Prize winners, countless communities are one step closer to environmental justice and an equitable and just future. Sharon Lavigne Environmental justice advocate Sharon Lavigne (United States, 2021) successfully stopped the construction of a $1.25 billion plastics manufacturing plant in St. James Parish, Louisiana.
[128] Uniting Communities for Change: The Grassroot Activism — Uniting Communities for Change: The Grassroot Activism - Uniting Communities for Change: The Grassroot Activism Grassroots activism thrives on community-based efforts where individual voices come together to enact change on social, political, or environmental fronts. At its core, grassroots activism is marked by a high degree of passion and persistence from its participants, driving the movement forward through various strategies like public demonstrations, social media campaigns, and community organizing. Grassroots activism has a long history, tracing back to movements that shaped societies and policies through local communities’ efforts. Grassroots activism plays a fundamental role in societal change, offering a bottom-up approach that allows individuals and communities to voice their concerns on social, political, and environmental issues.
[130] How Economic Inequality Harms the Environment - Scientific American — The battle reflected what seems to be a basic reality: When people who could benefit from using or abusing the environment are economically and politically more powerful than those who could be harmed, the imbalance facilitates environmental degradation. The final possibility is that even when people are well aware that they are bearing the brunt of environmental costs and know the sources, they lack sufficient economic and political power to prevail in social decisions about the use and abuse of the environment. The power-weighted social decision rule predicts not only that greater inequality will lead to greater environmental harm but also that the harm will be concentrated in communities at the lower end of the wealth-and-power spectrum.
[131] PDF — • Lower coping capacity • Lower access to infrastructure • Lower access to prevention services • Inequality of opportunity • Inequality of income • Higher vulnerability • Higher exposure • Disproportionate impact of environmental hazards on the poor and vulnerable groups • Increased inequalities within and between countries Environmental hazards: • Pollution • Natural resource degradation • Climate change and natural disasters • Conflicts The key message of this chapter is that environmental degradation (pollution, exploitation of natural resources, natural hazards and climate change) and related conflicts disproportionately impact the poor and disadvantaged (as well as poorer countries) and can exacerbate inequality of opportunity and outcome both within and among countries.
[164] Political ecology - Open Encyclopedia of Anthropology — Political ecology is a critical research field within anthropology and related disciplines that examines how and why economic structures and power relations drive environmental change in an increasingly interconnected world. Initially it was most well-known for investigating the practices and impacts of large-scale resource development projects in subsistence-oriented communities in the Global
[165] PDF — Recent debates within political ecology have motivated serious reflection about key concepts and methods in this relatively new field. In the introduction to this special issue, we briefly chart the intellectual genealogy of political ecology, identify vital challenges faced today, and present a new set of studies that respond to these concerns.
[166] New Insights in Political Ecology | Frontiers Research Topic — As the third decade of the 21st Century approaches, the achievements made by scholars have been exceptional, leading to major advancements in the fast-growing field of Political Ecology within Environment-Society Studies. This field is far from coherent, however. It is characterised by oftentimes conflicting theoretical framings leading to vastly different methodological approaches and
[175] How Durable Is President Biden's Environmental Justice Agenda? — The Biden administration is the first in U.S. history to prioritize environmental and climate justice across all federal agencies. Now, less than four years later, those agencies have invested billions in communities to address environmental justice (EJ) concerns and issued more protective regulations to address longstanding disparities in public health and environmental enforcement.
[178] Community-Based Adaptation to Climate Change: Core Issues and ... — The approach of community-based adaptation (CBA) to climate change conceptualises adaptation essentially as a social process originating in the needs, capabilities and values of the persons primarily concerned by a specific climate challenge .
[179] Community-based participatory climate action | Global Sustainability ... — In the United States, President Biden's American Jobs Plan called ‘for establishing a Civilian Climate Corps, a USD 10 billion effort to put a new generation of Americans to work conserving and restoring public lands and waters, increasing reforestation, increasing carbon sequestration in the agricultural sector, protecting biodiversity, improving access to recreation, and addressing the changing climate’ (US DIP, 2021). This goal is often echoed in international, national, and local responses to climate change: the public must become acquainted with the dangers of a changing climate in order to act and build resilience in the face of the climate emergency. 3.3 Participatory budgeting and planning
[184] How Grassroots Activists Are Fighting for Environmental Justice in the ... — Today, Nalleli continues to fight for environmental justice in her community and around the country. Seeking to curb the proliferation of petrochemical plants in her community, Sharon founded the grassroots environmental advocacy organization RISE St. James in October 2018. As exemplified by these stories, the fight for environmental justice in the United States depends heavily on the grassroots engagement of communities. Thanks to the extraordinary efforts of Goldman Prize winners, countless communities are one step closer to environmental justice and an equitable and just future. Sharon Lavigne Environmental justice advocate Sharon Lavigne (United States, 2021) successfully stopped the construction of a $1.25 billion plastics manufacturing plant in St. James Parish, Louisiana.
[190] Integrating Indigenous Knowledge and Traditional Practices for ... — Furthermore, recognizing and valuing Indigenous knowledge promotes cultural diversity and empowers Indigenous communities, ensuring their voices are included in decision-making processes related to land and resource management [3-4].This article aims to explore the significance of integrating Indigenous knowledge and traditional practices with contemporary biodiversity conservation efforts. For instance, traditional land management practices, such as rotational farming, agroforestry, and controlled burning, not only enhance biodiversity but also improve soil health and resilience against environmental stressors.Moreover, integrating Indigenous knowledge into biodiversity conservation efforts can empower Indigenous communities, recognizing their rights and contributions to environmental stewardship. This integration of knowledge has led to more effective management strategies that consider both ecological data and traditional practices, ultimately promoting the sustainable use of marine resources.These case studies demonstrate the potential benefits of integrating Indigenous knowledge with modern conservation efforts.
[206] Exploring Complexities of Political Ecology in the Research and ... — The educational challenge will be to lay out background theory and guidelines as we find ways to engage politically the problems amidst the power and control of the people that we elect as "leaders" at each level of educational and political systems. ... critique of political ecology has emerged which implicates ontology and the nature of
[207] Sage Reference - Green Politics: An A-to-Z Guide - Political Ecology — Sage Reference - Green Politics: An A-to-Z Guide - Political Ecology Political ecology is an empirically based approach, perspective, or research agenda engaged by a broad spectrum of academics to study environmental change and its relationship with humans. Political ecology is also a critique against dominant explanations of human-environment issues that seeks to demonstrate how environmental conditions, relations, and conflicts are contingent outcomes of power, as well as instrumental to political and ecological change. Political ecologists argue that the nature, causes, and effects of environmental change (e.g., climate change, food scarcity, land degradation, deforestation, pollution, water shortages, biopiracy, and biodiversity loss) are simultaneously political and ecological, social and biophysical and, thus, need to be examined in relation to the political-economic and ecological processes that frame them.
[208] Experimental and speculative political ecologies for an age of crisis ... — At the same time, political ecology, and the critical project of academia more broadly, have long been under scrutiny. Eve Kosofsky Sedgwick's (1997) Paranoid Reading and Reparative Reading and Bruno Latour's (2004) Why Has Critique Run out of Steam? have problematized the hegemonic epistemological role of critique and raised fundamental questions about its explanatory and reparative potential.
[210] Understanding Modern Political Ecology: Power, Inequality, and ... — Understanding Modern Political Ecology: Power, Inequality, and Environmental Justice in a Globalized World Understanding Modern Political Ecology: Power, Inequality, and Environmental Justice in a Globalized World Political ecology examines the interconnectedness between political, economic, and social factors and environmental issues. This field of study blends ecological and social sciences with political economy, exploring a variety of topics such as environmental degradation, the marginalization of certain groups, conflicts over natural resources, conservation practices, and the development of environmental identities and movements. Modern political ecology is an interdisciplinary field that examines the relationships between political, economic, and environmental systems. At the heart of political ecology is the understanding that environmental issues cannot be separated from social, political, and economic contexts.
[211] Political Ecology and Environmental Conflicts: The Struggle Over ... — Political Ecology and Environmental Conflicts: The Struggle Over Natural Resources — Harvard ALI Social Impact Review The behavior and dynamics of political ecology often concern disputes and conflicts related to the extraction or contamination of natural resources; movements that seek distributive equity of environmental benefits and harms; or discursive debates, especially in developing countries, over competing proposals about laws and policies for the regulation of the use of natural resources (Bryant, 1998). Power imbalances often accompany the financing of projects in countries that have little economic, political, and social control, enabling those with financial power to establish project roadmaps that allow them to manage in a controlled manner their extractive processes, the management of natural resources, and how they can be developed with a putative goal of avoiding environmental conflicts in a manner to preserve ecosystems for the future.
[214] Youth Activists and Sustainability: Overcoming Challenges through ... — Political Pushback Against Youth Activism Young activists have emerged as influential voices in the fight for environmental sustainability. However, their path is often riddled with challenges. One of the most significant challenges is political pushback. Governments and political leaders frequently resist the changes proposed by young activists, often driven by fears of economic repercussions
[216] The Rising Influence of Grassroots Movements - PoliticsLens — The Rising Influence of Grassroots Movements in Policy Formation In recent years, grassroots political movements have transformed from peripheral players into central forces shaping policy agendas. Social media platforms have revolutionized how grassroots movements organize, mobilize resources, and exert pressure on policy makers. These digital-first movements have achieved notable policy victories across the political spectrum. The climate justice movement offers a compelling example of grassroots influence on policy formation. Their success demonstrates how grassroots movements can shift the Overton window—the range of policies politically acceptable to the mainstream population—on critical issues. As traditional political institutions struggle with declining public trust, grassroots movements offer alternative channels for democratic participation and policy innovation. Great analysis of how grassroots movements are reshaping policy formation.
[217] Experimental and speculative political ecologies for an age of crisis ... — At the same time, political ecology, and the critical project of academia more broadly, have long been under scrutiny. Eve Kosofsky Sedgwick's (1997) Paranoid Reading and Reparative Reading and Bruno Latour's (2004) Why Has Critique Run out of Steam? have problematized the hegemonic epistemological role of critique and raised fundamental questions about its explanatory and reparative potential.
[218] A representative politics of nature? Bruno Latour on collectives and ... — Bruno Latour purports to transform political ecology by turning attention away from presumed damages to 'nature' and toward unproblematised scientific and social processes through which people and things stabilise their identities. He extends the categories of political representation to those processes in hopes of founding a 'parliament of things'. Such an assembly would settle the
[219] Experimental and speculative political ecologies for an age of crisis ... — This review highlights the potential of a political ecology that approaches socionatures more experimentally and speculatively. We first consider theoretical frameworks which can help elucidate a conceptual and methodological pathway for more experimental and speculative political ecology scholarship.
[220] Voicing the environment: Latour, Peirce and an expanded politics — This paper takes work by Bruno Latour as the starting point from which to critically examine conceptual moves needed to develop a formulation of voice appropriate for an expanded environmental politics which expresses the interests of human and nonhumans alike. Adopting human language and the rational speaking subject as the benchmark for entry into political debate and decision making is a
[245] Political ecology - Open Encyclopedia of Anthropology — Political ecology is a critical research field within anthropology and related disciplines that examines how and why economic structures and power relations drive environmental change in an increasingly interconnected world. Initially it was most well-known for investigating the practices and impacts of large-scale resource development projects in subsistence-oriented communities in the Global
[246] Political Ecology - an overview | ScienceDirect Topics — Political ecology has been described in various ways: as ‘a framework for analyzing human–environmental relations’ (Grossman 1998); as a ‘research orientation that seeks to link macrolevel political economic processes with microlevel aspects of human ecology’ (Dodds 1998); as a ‘historical outgrowth of the central questions asked by the social sciences about the relations between human society, viewed in its bio–cultural–political complexity, and significantly humanized nature’ (Greenberg and Park 1994); and as a ‘program or movement…begun as a reaction to certain features of human ecology or ecological anthropology [as well as cultural ecology] as it was practiced in the 1960s and early 1970s’ (Vayda and Walters 1999). Also crucial to political ecological analysis is the relative power of, and collaboration among, relevant social actors that affect access to, and management of, natural resources.
[251] Local climate change cultures: climate-relevant discursive practices in ... — Following Geoghegan and Leyson's (2012) assertion that greater attention to the influence of culture is needed to understand individual and community responses to climate change, this paper takes a cultural lens to examining talk about climate change and other environmental issues in accounts from citizens in three culturally diverse settings.
[252] Indigenous Perspectives for Strengthening Social Responses to Global ... — When researchers use principals of community-based participatory research, the process respects Indigenous knowledge and incorporates traditional ecological knowledge as an integral component to social responses of education, healing, mobilizing and implementation needed for addressing environmental changes.
[253] Cultural dimensions of climate change impacts and adaptation — Cultural dimensions of climate change impacts and adaptation | Nature Climate Change nature climate change Cultural dimensions of climate change impacts and adaptation Show authorsNature Climate Change volume 3, pages 112–117 (2013)Cite this article We analyse new research across the social sciences to show that climate change threatens cultural dimensions of lives and livelihoods that include the material and lived aspects of culture, identity, community cohesion and sense of place. J. Climate change: The importance of place. in Adapting to Climate Change: Thresholds, Values, Governance (eds Adger, W. in Adapting to Climate Change: Thresholds, Values, Governance (eds Adger, W. Cultural dimensions of climate change impacts and adaptation. Nature Clim Change 3, 112–117 (2013). Nature Climate Change (Nat. Clim.
[255] Political Ecology and Environmental Conflicts: The Struggle Over ... — Political Ecology and Environmental Conflicts: The Struggle Over Natural Resources — Harvard ALI Social Impact Review The behavior and dynamics of political ecology often concern disputes and conflicts related to the extraction or contamination of natural resources; movements that seek distributive equity of environmental benefits and harms; or discursive debates, especially in developing countries, over competing proposals about laws and policies for the regulation of the use of natural resources (Bryant, 1998). Power imbalances often accompany the financing of projects in countries that have little economic, political, and social control, enabling those with financial power to establish project roadmaps that allow them to manage in a controlled manner their extractive processes, the management of natural resources, and how they can be developed with a putative goal of avoiding environmental conflicts in a manner to preserve ecosystems for the future.
[257] Economic growth and environmental sustainability in developing ... — This study examines the impact of economic growth and foreign direct investment (FDI) on environmental degradation in 76 developing economies between 1991 and 2022, using various panel data models. Accordingly, many developed countries have adopted policies and implemented action plans to make economic growth more compatible with environmental goals, emphasize renewable energy, and shift their ecological policies to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, which should have an impact on the economy and society (Hunjra et al., 2022a, Basty and Ghachem, 2023). Unlike studies that consider the impact of financial development and FDI on CO2 emissions in developed economies (e.g., Abid et al., 2022), this study examines the impact of economic growth and FDI on CO2 emissions in 76 developing countries using panel data regressions.
[260] Environment and Social Inequality: Reasons and Challenges — Policies that promote environmental justice, equitable access to environmental resources, sustainable development, and inclusive decision-making processes are essential for addressing the root causes of both environmental degradation and social inequality.
[261] PDF — • Lower coping capacity • Lower access to infrastructure • Lower access to prevention services • Inequality of opportunity • Inequality of income • Higher vulnerability • Higher exposure • Disproportionate impact of environmental hazards on the poor and vulnerable groups • Increased inequalities within and between countries Environmental hazards: • Pollution • Natural resource degradation • Climate change and natural disasters • Conflicts The key message of this chapter is that environmental degradation (pollution, exploitation of natural resources, natural hazards and climate change) and related conflicts disproportionately impact the poor and disadvantaged (as well as poorer countries) and can exacerbate inequality of opportunity and outcome both within and among countries.
[262] How Economic Inequality Harms the Environment - Scientific American — The battle reflected what seems to be a basic reality: When people who could benefit from using or abusing the environment are economically and politically more powerful than those who could be harmed, the imbalance facilitates environmental degradation. The final possibility is that even when people are well aware that they are bearing the brunt of environmental costs and know the sources, they lack sufficient economic and political power to prevail in social decisions about the use and abuse of the environment. The power-weighted social decision rule predicts not only that greater inequality will lead to greater environmental harm but also that the harm will be concentrated in communities at the lower end of the wealth-and-power spectrum.
[263] 15 Famous Environmental Injustice Examples (2025) — Negative impacts include contamination of groundwater (which can get into drinking water supplies for local communities), contaminated streams, and potential air pollution (comprising both chemicals and dust). In the Appalachian region of the United States, mountaintop removal mining has devastated mountain ecosystems, polluted water supplies, and caused health issues among local communities. Industrial pollutants, untreated sewage, and religious offerings are all dumped upstream, contaminating the river downstream and causing health issues among communities that rely on the river for drinking water, bathing, and agriculture. Distributive Injustice: This refers to the unequal distribution of environmental goods (like clean air, water, and access to natural resources) and bads (such as pollution, waste disposal sites, and other environmental hazards).
[264] International Environmental Organizations: A Global Perspective — This organization plays a significant role in international environmental governance, promoting collaboration among nations. In addition, UNEP leads key initiatives such as the Global Environment Outlook, which assesses the state of the environment and informs policy-makers.
[265] The Role of the United Nations in Environmental Conservation — The United Nations has played a pivotal role in addressing environmental issues since the 1972 Stockholm Conference, which led to the establishment of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). Key agreements like the 1985 Vienna Convention, the 1987 Montreal Protocol, and the 1992 Rio Earth Summit's Agenda 21 have been instrumental. These efforts have led to significant milestones such
[267] Understanding Modern Political Ecology: Power, Inequality, and ... — Understanding Modern Political Ecology: Power, Inequality, and Environmental Justice in a Globalized World Understanding Modern Political Ecology: Power, Inequality, and Environmental Justice in a Globalized World Political ecology examines the interconnectedness between political, economic, and social factors and environmental issues. This field of study blends ecological and social sciences with political economy, exploring a variety of topics such as environmental degradation, the marginalization of certain groups, conflicts over natural resources, conservation practices, and the development of environmental identities and movements. Modern political ecology is an interdisciplinary field that examines the relationships between political, economic, and environmental systems. At the heart of political ecology is the understanding that environmental issues cannot be separated from social, political, and economic contexts.
[282] PDF — The long-term effectiveness of the Paris agreement depends on (1) whether a successful implementation of the parties' individual goals (the NDCs) enables the parties to reach their long-term goals of the agree-ment, and (2) whether the agreement includes mecha-nisms to further deepen commitments over time, while also ensuring high compliance
[283] Facilitating full and effective implementation of the Paris Agreement ... — The Paris Agreement, a landmark in the multilateral process of global climate governance, not only demonstrates the greatest inclusiveness and feasibility based on science and principles, but also points out the general direction of the global green and low-carbon transition. The Agreement has set a global goal to hold the increase in the global average temperature to well below 2 degrees
[288] Doing Political Ecology | Gregory L. Simon, Kelly Kay - Taylor & Franc — Readers will emerge with a wide-ranging understanding of political ecology and will attain a diverse toolkit for evaluating human-environment interactions. Each chapter astutely grounds key methodological, theoretical, topical, and conceptual approaches that animate a range of influential, cutting-edge, and complementary ways of "doing
[289] Political ecology in the key of policy: From chains of explanation to ... — Political ecology in the key of policy: From chains of explanation to webs of relation ... is exemplified and discussed in publications on feminist and/or mixed methods in political and cultural ecology (Rocheleau, 1995, ... Liberation Ecologies is a broad umbrella for the raft of structural PE approaches that have connected with political and
[291] Political ecology - Open Encyclopedia of Anthropology — Political ecology is a critical research field within anthropology and related disciplines that examines how and why economic structures and power relations drive environmental change in an increasingly interconnected world. Initially it was most well-known for investigating the practices and impacts of large-scale resource development projects in subsistence-oriented communities in the Global
[305] PDF — This involves scrutinizing not only policy design but also the political, economic, and social factors that influence the adoption and enforcement of these agreements . Content analysis is utilized to deepen the understanding of the alignment between global ecological goals and national political agendas. This technique systematically evaluates
[306] Political Ecology - an overview | ScienceDirect Topics — Political Ecology: Natural versus Cultural Landscapes. Political ecology applies a system's perspective to understanding the ecological ramifications and sequelae of political economic inspired practices and policy on both macro- and microenvironments. It looks upstream at the actors and actions responsible for setting environmental changes in motion, and downstream at those subject to such
[307] Political Ecology: A Critical Introduction. Malden — Political ecology analyses the factors and processes of environmental changes due to capitalist economic processes and power relations (Blaikie & Brookfield, 1987; Robbins, 2019). It was emerged
[309] Reconnecting with the social-political and ecological-economic reality ... — Similarly, the Social Psychology and Economics in Environmental Research (SPEER) project funded by the European Science Foundation (1999-2000) 3 connected researchers across economics, social psychology and philosophy in two international workshops to advance research on environmental problems and methods and stimulate future collaborations
[310] Political Ecology: Unpacking the Politics of Environmental Science ... — Ecology, Environment and Urban Development Ecology, Environment and Urban Development Political ecology has significant implications for global environmental policies, particularly in addressing issues of resource distribution and environmental justice. By examining the social and political dynamics that shape environmental outcomes, this field provides valuable insights for addressing pressing ecological challenges. From Marxist perspectives to deep ecology and social movements, political ecology encompasses a diverse range of approaches that highlight the need for inclusive and equitable environmental policies. As we navigate the complexities of global environmental governance, political ecology reminds us of the importance of addressing power imbalances, promoting environmental justice, and ensuring that all voices are heard in the decision-making process. Ecology, Environment and Urban Development
[311] Political ecology - Wikipedia — Political ecology is the study of the relationships between political, economic and social factors with environmental issues and changes. Political ecology differs from apolitical ecological studies by politicizing environmental issues and phenomena.. The academic discipline offers wide-ranging studies integrating ecological social sciences with political economy in topics such as