Whose knowledge counts in nature-based solutions? Understanding epistemic justice for nature-based solutions through a multi-city comparison across Europe and Asia

Mabon, Leslie; Barkved, Line; de Bruin, Karianne and Shih, Wan-Yu (2022). Whose knowledge counts in nature-based solutions? Understanding epistemic justice for nature-based solutions through a multi-city comparison across Europe and Asia. Environmental Science & Policy, 136 pp. 652–664.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envsci.2022.07.025

Abstract

There is increasing advocacy from academics, international agenda-setting organisations, and cities themselves for expert- and evidence driven approaches to multiple aspects of urban climate change and sustainability, including nature-based solutions. However, given growing interest in nature-based solutions research and practice towards questions of justice, it is important that the knowledge systems used to inform decisions about urban nature-based solutions are critically scrutinised. We use the lens of epistemic justice – justice in knowledge, with regard to how society defines a problem and the range of possible solutions – to assess nature-based solutions actions for climate adaptation and resilience across five cities: Amsterdam, Glasgow, Hanoi, Oslo, and Taipei. Our study finds common issues: the risk of quantifiable evidence about the distribution of NbS and its benefits closing down the aims of NbS strategies to meeting narrowly-defined indicators; the potential for self-defined communities of experts becoming de facto authorities on NbS; and the need for those tasked with implementing NbS ‘on the ground’ to have access to the fora and knowledge systems in which NbS strategies are developed. A key message is that more participation alone is insufficient to address epistemic justice concerns, unless it comes at a stage where a broad range of stakeholders (and their knowledges) can influence adaptation strategies and the role of NbS within them. Given the inter- and transdisciplinary nature of NbS scholarship, we argue attention must be focused on the potential for exclusion of key knowledge systems from policy and governance processes.

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• Item ORO ID
• 84475
• Item Type
• Journal Item
• ISSN
• 1462-9011
• Project Funding Details

• Funded Project Name	Project ID	Funding Body
  Urban trees as a nature-based solution for heat-resilient green neighbourhoods	1759060	British Academy
  URBAN GREENING FOR CLIMATE-RESILIENT NEIGHBOURHOODS: LINKING SCHOLARS AND CITIES ACROSS THE UK AND TAIWAN	1771801	ESRC

• Keywords
• climate adaptation; epistemic justice; nature-based solutions; resilience; urban greening
• Academic Unit or School
• Faculty of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) > Engineering and Innovation
  Faculty of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM)
• Copyright Holders
• © 2022 The Authors
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