Speaker
Description
Planners today face an unprecedented dual challenge: addressing the immediate demands of crises like climate change, social inequality, and economic instability while ensuring justice and equity in the long term. These overlapping crises often intensify existing disparities, compelling planners to critically engage with ethical principles as a guide for transformative action. This paper delves into the practical application of justice in planning, highlighting the complexities of reconciling diverse interests and ideals within urban societies.
Through case studies focused on post-industrial urban areas and communities most affected by climate change, the paper examines three core dimensions: (1) the ethical foundations shaping decision-making in planning, (2) approaches to embedding justice and inclusivity into adaptive planning strategies, and (3) tools for mediating between conflicting societal priorities. It emphasizes participatory practices, interdisciplinary collaboration, and robust governance as key mechanisms for aligning ethical commitments with actionable solutions.
Grounded in distributive, procedural, and recognition-based justice theories, the study offers critical insights into integrating justice into planning efforts at local and systemic levels. It also underscores the importance of fostering resilience and inclusion, particularly for marginalized populations, while tackling broader challenges posed by planetary crises.
By exploring the ethical imperatives of planning in this transformative era, the paper aims to bridge theoretical and practical perspectives, offering concrete recommendations for planners, policymakers, and other stakeholders committed to advancing justice in a rapidly changing world.
References
Campbell, H. (2012). Planning to Change the World: Between Knowledge and Action Lies Synthesis. Journal of Planning Education and Research, 32(2), pp.135–146.
Davoudi, S., Brooks, E. and Mehmood, A. (2013). Evolutionary Resilience and Strategies for Climate Adaptation. Planning Practice & Research, 28(3), pp.307–322.
Fainstein, S.S. (2010). The Just City. Ithaca: Cornell University Press.
Healey, P. (1997). Collaborative Planning: Shaping Places in Fragmented Societies. Basingstoke: Macmillan.
Schlosberg, D. (2004). Reconceiving Environmental Justice: Global Movements and Political Theories. Environmental Politics, 13(3), pp.517–540.
| Keywords | ethics in planning; justice; adaptive planning; urban resilience; participatory processes |
|---|---|
| Best Congress Paper Award | Yes |
