Measuring Environmental Justice in Real Time: A Pilot Study Using Digital Participatory Method in the Global South, Nepal

Rehana Shrestha, Klaus Telkmann, Benjamin Schüz, Pramesh Koju, Reshma Shrestha, Biraj Karmacharya and Gabriele Bolte
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Rehana Shrestha: Leibniz Science Campus Digital Public Health Bremen, 28359 Bremen, Germany
Klaus Telkmann: Institute of Public Health and Nursing Research, University of Bremen, 28359 Bremen, Germany
Benjamin Schüz: Leibniz Science Campus Digital Public Health Bremen, 28359 Bremen, Germany
Pramesh Koju: Department of Public Health and Community Programs, Kathmandu University, Dhulikhel 45200, Nepal
Reshma Shrestha: Department of Geomatics, Kathmandu University, Dhulikhel 45200, Nepal
Biraj Karmacharya: Department of Public Health and Community Programs, Kathmandu University, Dhulikhel 45200, Nepal
Gabriele Bolte: Leibniz Science Campus Digital Public Health Bremen, 28359 Bremen, Germany

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 8, 1-21

Abstract: Individuals’ perceived fairness or justice beliefs are related to health in numerous ways. However, environment justice research to date has given little attention to perceived fairness of environmental exposures as experienced by individuals. This study explored the feasibility of a bottom-up digital participatory (via mobile phones) approach using ecological momentary assessment (EMA) to capture individuals’ subjective experience of environmental exposures and the subjective evaluation of fairness by those affected in the context of Nepal. In total, 22 individuals participated in the study for 28 days. The results show high rates of study retention and adherence. Individuals’ justice perception was found to vary within and between individuals, but also substantially depending on the types of environmental exposures. Nevertheless, the study indicates that uncertainties are inevitable as study design and timing may conflict participants’ daily lives and priorities. The method allows us to consider multiple geographic contexts of individuals’ everyday lives beyond residential environment. This pilot study proved the possibility to assess perceptions of environmental justice issues and demonstrated the necessary steps to using digital participatory method for assessing subjective perception of fairness of individuals.

Keywords: environmental inequalities; environmental exposure; perceived fairness; ecological momentary assessment; smartphone (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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