Justice in (English) Water Infrastructure: A Systematic Review

Elisabeth A. Shrimpton, Dexter Hunt and Chris D.F. Rogers
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Elisabeth A. Shrimpton: School of Civil Engineering, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK
Dexter Hunt: School of Civil Engineering, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK
Chris D.F. Rogers: School of Civil Engineering, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 6, 1-18

Abstract: This paper reports on a systematic review of the literature around governance and water infrastructure in England to analyse data on the application, or absence, of justice themes. It finds that, unlike in other sectors, justice thinking is far from embedded in the water sector here and whilst there are signs of a discussion there is a lack of sophistication and coherence around the debate. More positively, the research suggests that the concept of justice can be used as a tool or framework to help air and address these complex issues and in doing so is an advance on the concept of sustainability. By exploring the issues in this way, the study reveals a wealth of opportunities to use justice-thinking to improve infrastructure decision making. It is suggested a justice approach is the next step as our thinking matures beyond sustainability, improving the decisions we make for people and planet.

Keywords: justice; water; infrastructure; wastewater; governance; sustainability; systematic literature review (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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