Indigenous Peoples and Multiscalar Environmental Governance: The Opening and Closure of Participatory Spaces

Gustafsson MT, Schilling-Vacaflor A (2022)

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2022

Journal

Global Environmental Politics Massachusetts Institute of Technology Press (MIT Press): Arts & Humanities Titles etc

Book Volume: 22

Pages Range: 70-91

Journal Issue: 2

DOI: 10.1162/glep_a_00642

Abstract

There has been an unprecedented inclusion of Indigenous peoples in environmental governance instruments like free, prior, and informed consent; reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation (REDD+) projects; climate adaptation initiatives; and environmental impact assessment. We draw on theories of participatory governance to show how locally implemented processes have been shaped by their interactions with invited, closed, and indigenous-led spaces at multiple scales. Empirically, our article is based on field research in Latin America, semi structured interviews, and a systematic literature review. We find four main barriers that have (re-)produced environmental injustices in environmental governance: first, a lack of influence over the institutional design of governance instruments; second, the exclusion of Indigenous peoples in the domestication of global instruments; third, policy incoherencies constraining the scope for decision-making; and fourth, weak cross-scale linkages between Indigenous-led spaces. This article helps to elucidate constraints of participatory spaces and identify leeway for transformation toward environmental justice.

Authors with CRIS profile

Almut Schilling-Vacaflor del Carpio

Involved external institutions

Stockholm University / Stockholms universitet SE Sweden (SE) Universität Osnabrück DE Germany (DE)

How to cite

APA:

Gustafsson, M.T., & Schilling-Vacaflor, A. (2022). Indigenous Peoples and Multiscalar Environmental Governance: The Opening and Closure of Participatory Spaces. Global Environmental Politics, 22(2), 70-91. https://doi.org/10.1162/glep_a_00642

MLA:

Gustafsson, Maria Therese, and Almut Schilling-Vacaflor. "Indigenous Peoples and Multiscalar Environmental Governance: The Opening and Closure of Participatory Spaces." Global Environmental Politics 22.2 (2022): 70-91.

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