Abstract
Resource-dependent communities are subject to both unstable economic patterns and environmental degradation associated with extractive industries. However, few studies have empirically analyzed these dynamics in tandem and over time. This paper explores whether Appalachian neighborhoods closer to coal waste impoundments experienced steeper poverty changes from 1990 to 2000. Impoundment failures have resulted in some of the largest environmental disasters in U.S. history and scientists have expressed concerns over their growing heights and risks. Spatial regression models show that neighborhoods closer to impoundments have higher poverty increases on average, even after controlling for mining employment and other variables. These findings highlight the need for a deeper consideration of the environmental inequalities associated with the continued downturn of coal production and employment in the United States. Further, discussions about just transitions must recognize the legacy hazards and externalities associated with extractive industries–and their impacts on communities.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 995-1011 |
| Number of pages | 17 |
| Journal | Society and Natural Resources |
| Volume | 31 |
| Issue number | 9 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Sep 2 2018 |
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All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes
- Development
- Environmental Science (miscellaneous)
- Sociology and Political Science
Cite this
Coal Waste, Socioeconomic Change, and Environmental Inequality in Appalachia : Implications for a Just Transition in Coal Country. / Greenberg, Pierce.
In: Society and Natural Resources, Vol. 31, No. 9, 02.09.2018, p. 995-1011.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Coal Waste, Socioeconomic Change, and Environmental Inequality in Appalachia
T2 - Implications for a Just Transition in Coal Country
AU - Greenberg, Pierce
PY - 2018/9/2
Y1 - 2018/9/2
N2 - Resource-dependent communities are subject to both unstable economic patterns and environmental degradation associated with extractive industries. However, few studies have empirically analyzed these dynamics in tandem and over time. This paper explores whether Appalachian neighborhoods closer to coal waste impoundments experienced steeper poverty changes from 1990 to 2000. Impoundment failures have resulted in some of the largest environmental disasters in U.S. history and scientists have expressed concerns over their growing heights and risks. Spatial regression models show that neighborhoods closer to impoundments have higher poverty increases on average, even after controlling for mining employment and other variables. These findings highlight the need for a deeper consideration of the environmental inequalities associated with the continued downturn of coal production and employment in the United States. Further, discussions about just transitions must recognize the legacy hazards and externalities associated with extractive industries–and their impacts on communities.
AB - Resource-dependent communities are subject to both unstable economic patterns and environmental degradation associated with extractive industries. However, few studies have empirically analyzed these dynamics in tandem and over time. This paper explores whether Appalachian neighborhoods closer to coal waste impoundments experienced steeper poverty changes from 1990 to 2000. Impoundment failures have resulted in some of the largest environmental disasters in U.S. history and scientists have expressed concerns over their growing heights and risks. Spatial regression models show that neighborhoods closer to impoundments have higher poverty increases on average, even after controlling for mining employment and other variables. These findings highlight the need for a deeper consideration of the environmental inequalities associated with the continued downturn of coal production and employment in the United States. Further, discussions about just transitions must recognize the legacy hazards and externalities associated with extractive industries–and their impacts on communities.
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U2 - 10.1080/08941920.2018.1456593
DO - 10.1080/08941920.2018.1456593
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85048363554
VL - 31
SP - 995
EP - 1011
JO - Society and Natural Resources
JF - Society and Natural Resources
SN - 0894-1920
IS - 9
ER -