Frontiers in Climate (Sep 2021)
3 Challenges, 3 Errors, and 3 Solutions to Integrate Frontline Communities in Climate Change Policy and Research: Lessons From California
- Angel Santiago Fernandez-Bou,
- Angel Santiago Fernandez-Bou,
- Angel Santiago Fernandez-Bou,
- J. Pablo Ortiz-Partida,
- Leticia M. Classen-Rodriguez,
- Leticia M. Classen-Rodriguez,
- Chantelise Pells,
- Kristin B. Dobbin,
- Vicky Espinoza,
- Vicky Espinoza,
- José Manuel Rodríguez-Flores,
- José Manuel Rodríguez-Flores,
- José Manuel Rodríguez-Flores,
- José Manuel Rodríguez-Flores,
- Chia Thao,
- Chia Thao,
- Courtney R. Hammond Wagner,
- Amanda Fencl,
- Humberto Flores-Landeros,
- Humberto Flores-Landeros,
- Humberto Flores-Landeros,
- Humberto Flores-Landeros,
- Mahesh L. Maskey,
- Mahesh L. Maskey,
- Spencer A. Cole,
- Spencer A. Cole,
- Spencer A. Cole,
- Shayda Azamian,
- Eliseo Gamiño,
- Alexander Guzman,
- Alexander Guzman,
- Ana Grace F. Alvarado,
- Ana Grace F. Alvarado,
- Ana Grace F. Alvarado,
- Miriam S. Campos-Martínez,
- Coreen Weintraub,
- Espi Sandoval,
- Ruth M. Dahlquist-Willard,
- Leigh A. Bernacchi,
- Colleen C. Naughton,
- Colleen C. Naughton,
- Robin M. DeLugan,
- Josué Medellín-Azuara,
- Josué Medellín-Azuara,
- Josué Medellín-Azuara
Affiliations
- Angel Santiago Fernandez-Bou
- Water Systems Management Laboratory, University of California, Merced, Merced, CA, United States
- Angel Santiago Fernandez-Bou
- Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of California, Merced, Merced, CA, United States
- Angel Santiago Fernandez-Bou
- 4Venir Educational Nonprofit Organization, Merced, CA, United States
- J. Pablo Ortiz-Partida
- Climate and Energy Program, Union of Concerned Scientists, Cambridge, MA, United States
- Leticia M. Classen-Rodriguez
- 4Venir Educational Nonprofit Organization, Merced, CA, United States
- Leticia M. Classen-Rodriguez
- Department of Biology, Saint Louis University, Saint Louis, MO, United States
- Chantelise Pells
- Water Systems Management Laboratory, University of California, Merced, Merced, CA, United States
- Kristin B. Dobbin
- Department of Environmental Science and Policy, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
- Vicky Espinoza
- Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of California, Merced, Merced, CA, United States
- Vicky Espinoza
- Environmental Systems Program, University of California, Merced, Merced, CA, United States
- José Manuel Rodríguez-Flores
- Water Systems Management Laboratory, University of California, Merced, Merced, CA, United States
- José Manuel Rodríguez-Flores
- Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of California, Merced, Merced, CA, United States
- José Manuel Rodríguez-Flores
- 4Venir Educational Nonprofit Organization, Merced, CA, United States
- José Manuel Rodríguez-Flores
- Environmental Systems Program, University of California, Merced, Merced, CA, United States
- Chia Thao
- Public Health Program, University of California, Merced, Merced, CA, United States
- Chia Thao
- School of Social Science, Humanities, and Arts, University of California, Merced, Merced, CA, United States
- Courtney R. Hammond Wagner
- 0Water in the West, Woods Institute for the Environment, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States
- Amanda Fencl
- 1Department of Geography, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States
- Humberto Flores-Landeros
- Water Systems Management Laboratory, University of California, Merced, Merced, CA, United States
- Humberto Flores-Landeros
- Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of California, Merced, Merced, CA, United States
- Humberto Flores-Landeros
- 4Venir Educational Nonprofit Organization, Merced, CA, United States
- Humberto Flores-Landeros
- Environmental Systems Program, University of California, Merced, Merced, CA, United States
- Mahesh L. Maskey
- Water Systems Management Laboratory, University of California, Merced, Merced, CA, United States
- Mahesh L. Maskey
- Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of California, Merced, Merced, CA, United States
- Spencer A. Cole
- Water Systems Management Laboratory, University of California, Merced, Merced, CA, United States
- Spencer A. Cole
- Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of California, Merced, Merced, CA, United States
- Spencer A. Cole
- Environmental Systems Program, University of California, Merced, Merced, CA, United States
- Shayda Azamian
- 2Leadership Counsel for Justice and Accountability, Fresno, CA, United States
- Eliseo Gamiño
- 3Central Valley Leadership Round Table (Mesa Redonda de Liderazgo del Valle Central), Fresno, CA, United States
- Alexander Guzman
- Water Systems Management Laboratory, University of California, Merced, Merced, CA, United States
- Alexander Guzman
- Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of California, Merced, Merced, CA, United States
- Ana Grace F. Alvarado
- Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of California, Merced, Merced, CA, United States
- Ana Grace F. Alvarado
- 4Venir Educational Nonprofit Organization, Merced, CA, United States
- Ana Grace F. Alvarado
- Environmental Systems Program, University of California, Merced, Merced, CA, United States
- Miriam S. Campos-Martínez
- School of Social Science, Humanities, and Arts, University of California, Merced, Merced, CA, United States
- Coreen Weintraub
- Climate and Energy Program, Union of Concerned Scientists, Cambridge, MA, United States
- Espi Sandoval
- 3Central Valley Leadership Round Table (Mesa Redonda de Liderazgo del Valle Central), Fresno, CA, United States
- Ruth M. Dahlquist-Willard
- 4University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources, Fresno County Cooperative Extension, Fresno, CA, United States
- Leigh A. Bernacchi
- 5Center for Information Technology Research in the Interest of Society and the Banatao Institute, University of California, Merced, Merced, CA, United States
- Colleen C. Naughton
- Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of California, Merced, Merced, CA, United States
- Colleen C. Naughton
- Environmental Systems Program, University of California, Merced, Merced, CA, United States
- Robin M. DeLugan
- School of Social Science, Humanities, and Arts, University of California, Merced, Merced, CA, United States
- Josué Medellín-Azuara
- Water Systems Management Laboratory, University of California, Merced, Merced, CA, United States
- Josué Medellín-Azuara
- Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of California, Merced, Merced, CA, United States
- Josué Medellín-Azuara
- Environmental Systems Program, University of California, Merced, Merced, CA, United States
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.3389/fclim.2021.717554
- Journal volume & issue
-
Vol. 3
Abstract
Frontline communities of California experience disproportionate social, economic, and environmental injustices, and climate change is exacerbating the root causes of inequity in those areas. Yet, climate adaptation and mitigation strategies often fail to meaningfully address the experience of frontline community stakeholders. Here, we present three challenges, three errors, and three solutions to better integrate frontline communities' needs in climate change research and to create more impactful policies. We base our perspective on our collective firsthand experiences and on scholarship to bridge local knowledge with hydroclimatic research and policymaking. Unawareness of local priorities (Challenge 1) is a consequence of Ignoring local knowledge (Error 1) that can be, in part, resolved with Information exchange and expansion of community-based participatory research (Solution 1). Unequal access to natural resources (Challenge 2) is often due to Top-down decision making (Error 2), but Buffer zones for environmental protection, green areas, air quality, and water security can help achieve environmental justice (Solution 2). Unequal access to public services (Challenge 3) is a historical issue that persists because of System abuse and tokenism (Error 3), and it may be partially resolved with Multi-benefit projects to create socioeconomic and environmental opportunities within frontline communities that include positive externalities for other stakeholders and public service improvements (Solution 3). The path forward in climate change policy decision-making must be grounded in collaboration with frontline community members and practitioners trained in working with vulnerable stakeholders. Addressing co-occurring inequities exacerbated by climate change requires transdisciplinary efforts to identify technical, policy, and engineering solutions.
Keywords
- local knowledge
- multi-benefit projects
- buffer zones
- community-based research
- disadvantaged communities
- environmental justice
