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Article
Environmental Justice and Information Technologies: Overcoming the Information Access Paradox in Urban Communities
Public Administration Review
  • Wendy A. Kellogg, Cleveland State University
  • Anjali Mathur, Earth Day Coalition (Cleveland, Ohio)
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
8-14-2003
Abstract

Scientific studies and resident testimony suggest that urban residents in low-income and minority communities have been subject to an unequal burden of environmental pollution and inequitable environmental enforcement practices. A key component of the equitable development and implementation of environmental policies is the participation of citizens and community-based organizations in the policy process. Such participation rests upon equitable access to agency-generated environmental information and effective use of that information by citizens. This article focuses on the adoption of Internet technologies by environmental agencies as a mechanism for disseminating information and the implications for low-income and minority residents in urban communities. A framework is developed to guide a programmatic response to overcome these implications. The results from several community-based projects are described and analyzed for their capacity-building effectiveness. Analysis of the projects indicates improvement in community capacity for information access and use, which bolstered community participation in the environmental decision-making process.

DOI
10.1111/1540-6210.00321
Version
Postprint
Citation Information
Kellogg, W. A. and Mathur, A. (2003), Environmental Justice and Information Technologies: Overcoming the Information-Access Paradox in Urban Communities. Public Administration Review, 63: 573–585. doi: 10.1111/1540-6210.00321