Loss of Place [and Loss of Place [and Identity]Identity]

Environmental Justice Environmental Justice Implications of Global Implications of Global

Climate ChangeClimate Change

Planning and Policy Options Planning and Policy Options associated with GCCassociated with GCC

MitigationMitigation AdaptationAdaptation False Choices??False Choices?? Environmental Injustice and Environmental Injustice and

DisproportionalityDisproportionality

Environmental InjusticeEnvironmental Injustice

Approximately 15% (or Approximately 15% (or about 94,000 miles of about 94,000 miles of coastline) of the coastline) of the world’s coastline is world’s coastline is found in the Oceanic found in the Oceanic countries and places of countries and places of the Pacific (i.e., Samoa, the Pacific (i.e., Samoa, Marshall Islands).Marshall Islands).

A one foot rise in sea A one foot rise in sea level is associated with level is associated with a 50-200 foot loss of a 50-200 foot loss of land (NOAA 2005).land (NOAA 2005).Source: UNEP 2007 (Photo

by J. Ellison)

Disproportionate social Disproportionate social costscosts

The economic The economic costs associated costs associated with GCC are real with GCC are real but are not limited but are not limited to the tangible to the tangible economic costs of economic costs of property loss and property loss and adaptation.adaptation.

Source: UNEP 2007 (Photos by E. Gilman)

The Lines of Defense against The Lines of Defense against GCC Are Already Literally GCC Are Already Literally

ErodingEroding

Environmental InjusticeEnvironmental Injustice

For geographers and planners, the For geographers and planners, the relationship between place and identity relationship between place and identity has long been useful in explaining policy has long been useful in explaining policy options and decision-making processes options and decision-making processes associated with changes in environmental associated with changes in environmental conditions (Mitchell 2001; Harvey 2000).conditions (Mitchell 2001; Harvey 2000).

But research is lacking in the complete But research is lacking in the complete loss of place and its impact on cultural loss of place and its impact on cultural identity.identity.

U.S. Marshal Islands U.S. Marshal Islands (Source: (Source: NOAA)NOAA)

Intensity of storms in the Intensity of storms in the Pacific is on the rise Pacific is on the rise

(Source: Pinca et al 2005)(Source: Pinca et al 2005)

Photo by Peter McQuarrie Photo by Peter McQuarrie 2004 2004

Adaptation Strategies given Adaptation Strategies given Risks Risks (Source: Woodroffe 2008)(Source: Woodroffe 2008)

Adaptation and Loss of Adaptation and Loss of IdentityIdentity

South end of Long South end of Long Beach Island, NJ.Beach Island, NJ.

Adaptation to Adaptation to shoreline loss has shoreline loss has been costly and been costly and has significantly has significantly changed the changed the population population dynamic.dynamic.

Source: Photo supplied by Barnegat Light Historical Society

Adaptation responses to Adaptation responses to severe weather events were severe weather events were

significantsignificant

Source: Barnegat Light Historical Society (Photo by E. E. Wuerker)Wuerker)

Source: Barnegat Light Source: Barnegat Light Historical Society (Photo by B. Historical Society (Photo by B.

Kane)Kane)

Seawall construction and Seawall construction and maintenance in Somoamaintenance in Somoa

Source: UNEP 2007 (Photo by E. Gilman)Source: UNEP 2007 (Photo by E. Gilman)

Use of what for seawall Use of what for seawall construction???construction???

Source: LA Times 2008 (Photo by G. Friedman)

Policy and planning Policy and planning implicationsimplications

As many nations and communities As many nations and communities are already forced to chose to adapt are already forced to chose to adapt to the effects of GCC, the concept of to the effects of GCC, the concept of identity and place cannot be lost in identity and place cannot be lost in the planning and policy decisions.the planning and policy decisions.

Adaptation has significant cultural Adaptation has significant cultural costs; but in the face of the costs; but in the face of the alternative???alternative???