Envionmental Behavioral Sciences Seminar

Floods, Fires, and Fairness: Environmental Justice in Planning for Climate Hazards

As climate hazards like floods and wildfires intensify, local governments are under growing pressure to plan for these risks. Yet, only about 40% of local governments in the U.S. have completed hazard mitigation plans that qualify them for federal funding to address local risks. Why do some governments proactively build resilience while others do not? Using a comprehensive dataset tracking when nearly 18,000 local governments created these hazard mitigation plans, we explore the political factors that drive mitigation decisions. Our findings reveal that the disparity in planning is tied to who faces the greatest risks—when climate threats are concentrated in less affluent or non-white neighborhoods, local governments are less likely to act. This research sheds light on how our public institutions shape climate adaptation, determining whose risks are addressed and whose are overlooked.

Biography

Mark Buntaine is a professor of environmental institutions and governance at the Bren School of Environmental Science & Management, University of California, Santa Barbara. His research focuses on how improved governance can enhance the implementation of environmental policies, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. Recently, he has led experimental projects testing whether citizen participation can improve solid waste services, reduce air and water pollution, and strengthen forest management. He collaborates with and advises government and non-governmental organizations on effective policy implementation, emphasizing the design of institutions that ensure government accountability to the public.