Exploring Participatory Justice in Net Zero Transport Policies

Category: Net Zero 5
Date: Wednesday 6 November 2024

The UK Government has implemented numerous transport policies in an attempt to reach its Net Zero (NZ) target for 2050 (GovUK, 2022). Despite contributing towards meeting this goal, NZ transport policies are ineffective and fail to represent various societal groups, such as low-income households living outside urban areas (Bistline et al., 2024). Participatory justice refers to the inclusion of marginalised groups in the decision-making process regarding governmental policies, to create fairer, representational policies (Bal, 2012). This concept can improve NZ transport policy, as the inclusion of public voices and opinions in the decision-making process allows for a more holistic approach to NZ policymaking (Wampler, 2012).

Many NZ transport policies, such as the encouragement of electric vehicles, congestion charges, and the encouragement of public transport require additional citizen spending (Better Transport, 2024). Furthermore, these policies showcase the disconnect between policymakers and citizens, through the lack of concern for the impact on low-income households (Baron et al., 2012). Electric vehicles, congestion charges, and the high costs and unreliability of public transport make NZ transport policies inaccessible for low-income households (Better Transport, 2024). Moreover, issues with public transport are more prevalent in the north of England, with several regions unable to access equal opportunities to those living in urban cities (Rowthorn, 2010). The impacts of these ineffective policies translate into a decline in quality of life, as people are forced to make trade-offs between transport and opportunities, and other necessities such as heating and food. These policies can also isolate low-income households from wider society, due to a lack of travel options, or high costs, leading to a significant decline in mental wellbeing (Transport for the North, 2024). Policymakers, who do not typically rely on public transport and remain unaffected by additional transport costs due to higher wages may not consider these impacts when drafting NZ policies (Lusoli et al., 2006). Therefore, it is crucial to allow marginalised groups to voice their opinions and truly participate in the debates surrounding NZ transport policies.

Viewing the issue of NZ transport through the lens of participatory justice has clearly highlighted the importance of including groups such as low-income households in decision-making to bridge the existing disconnect between policymakers and citizens. This does not refer to simply voicing opinions but includes the ability of these groups to be involved in decision-making processes, possibly through consulting, discussion, or co-design (Amerasinghe et al., 2008). Additionally, this lens highlights the nuance required for effective NZ policymaking, as different circumstances and backgrounds of certain groups necessitate a more tailored approach, meaning blanket policies are neither inclusive nor effective (Amerasinghe et al., 2008). However, it is also important to consider other frames within this discussion, as participatory justice is simply one element of an extremely complex issue. Concepts of distributional and procedural justice should also be considered, as justice issues are often interlinked, and cannot be considered in isolation, emphasising the importance of viewing sustainability issues from multiple lenses to devise effective solutions (Wampler, 2012).

To effectively administer participatory justice in NZ transport policies, marginalised groups such as low-income households and residents of smaller towns and cities must have their voices heard by policymakers. Moreover, these groups must be given the power to influence the decision-making process; it is not sufficient for their voices to just be heard, their opinions and beliefs must impact the outcome of the policies being made (Amerasinghe et al., 2008). Therefore, collaborative discussions and consultations between policymakers and representatives of these marginalised groups must be encouraged, to effectively facilitate participatory justice in NZ transport policies.

References:

Amerasinghe, M, Farrell, L, Jin, S, Shin, N. and Stelljes, K. 2008. Enabling Environmental Justice: Assessment of Participatory Tools. [Online]. [Accessed 28^th October 2024]. Available from: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Kristen-Stelljes/publication/242528999_Enabling_Environmental_Justice_Assessment_of_Participatory_Tools/links/566205e108ae192bbf8cac3f/Enabling-Environmental-Justice-Assessment-of-Participatory-Tools.pdf

Bal, A. (of Denti, L.G and Whang, P.A). 2012. Participatory social justice for all. [Online]. Boston: Sense Publishers. [Accessed 28^th October 2024]. Available from: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Aydin-Bal-2/publication/265907857_Participatory_social_justice_for_all/links/5420cdfb0cf203f155c5ee2c/Participatory-social-justice-for-all.pdf

Baron, J, McEnroe, W.T. and Poliquin, C (of Coglianese, C). 2012. Citizens Perceptions and the Disconnect Between Economics and Regulatory Policy. [Online]. Pennsylvania: University of Pennsylvania Press. [Accessed 28^th October 2024]. Available from: https://books.google.co.uk/books?hl=en&lr=&id=VH6u3fgTZUEC&oi=fnd&pg=PA143&dq=disconnect+between+government+policies+and+citizens&ots=BJCPdNOGCL&sig=1cdygDJMQhCqSzTAfg__LaoaTVs&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q&f=false

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GovUK. 2022. Net Zero Strategy: Build Back Greener. [Online]. [Accessed 28^th October 2024]. Available from: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/net-zero-strategy

Lusoli, W, Ward, S. and Gibson, R. 2005. (Re)connecting Politics? Parliament, the Public and the Internet. Parliamentary Affairs. 59(1), pp. 24-42.

Rowthorn, R. 2010. Combined and Uneven Development: Reflections on the North–South Divide. Spatial Economic Analysis. 5(4), pp. 363-388.

Transport for the North. 2024. Transport issues are causing more than 2 in 5 of the most vulnerable residents of the North to be socially excluded. [Online]. [Accessed 28^th October 2024]. Available from: https://www.transportforthenorth.com/press-release/transport-issues-are-causing-more-than-2-in-5-of-the-most-vulnerable-residents-of-the-north-to-be-socially-excluded/

Wampler, B. 2012. Participation, Representation, and Social Justice: Using Participatory Governance to Transform Representative Democracy. The University of Chicago Press Journals. 44(4), pp. 666-682.