Environmental Justice of Coastal Hazards: A Systematic Literature Review

Abstract

As the ocean warms, sea levels rise, and coastlines change, there is a growing interest in environmental justice on the coast. Here we conduct a systematic literature review on environmental justice and coastal hazards around the world. Our analysis reveals a focus on both long-term phenomena such as sea-level rise and extreme acute events like storms or hurricanes. We found that environmental justice literature about coastal hazards has increased in recent years with most papers focused on U.S. coastal areas. A majority of the papers described low-income communities and economic vulnerabilities, however, the solutions presented in the papers primarily focus on increasing researcher awareness of environmental justice and promoting increased engagement with marginalized communities. Additionally, a majority of the papers rely on mapping census data for their analysis rather than more qualitative methods. Overall, 76 percent of the papers reviewed determined that the most vulnerable populations are also the most at risk to coastal hazards, but there was a dearth of information on the historical causes of this phenomenon. Only 37 percent of the papers mention systems of historical or systemic oppression, such as segregation or redlining, that have led to marginalized populations experiencing greater levels of exposure. Finally, we suggest policy implications for addressing environmental injustices and recommendations for climate change and coastal hazards researchers writing about environmental justice.