ABSTRACT

Youth perspectives on energy interventions are rarely sought or acted on in local and national policy, despite the stake young people have in the future created by today’s energy and environmental policies. The debate on unconventional shale gas development (hydraulic fracturing, or “fracking”) is one context in which decisions taken today have long-term, intergenerational consequences, with environmental justice intersecting with energy needs. This study investigated young people’s perceptions and experiences of exploratory fracking and associated political processes in order to understand their experiences of environmental justice. In depth, qualitative field research was conducted with 84 young people in locations within 20 miles (32 kilometers) of operational exploratory fracking sites prior to the moratorium in England announced in November 2019. Data were analysed with attention to recognition, participation and distributional justice. Young people experienced environmental, democratic and social injustices through lack of recognition of their aims and values as both youth and members of a rural community, and exclusion from formal participation in decision-making. Young people saw economic and thus environmental power residing with industry closely tied to national government, and experienced a tension between desire to trust institutional authority and betrayal by these same institutions. We argue that this case study of young people in “the sacrifice zone” demonstrates a connection between depoliticisation and anti-politics, and that these processes undermine trust in democracy. There is a need for recognition and meaningful inclusion of young people and local communities in decision-making, particularly where the consequences of the decisions last for generations.

摘要

尽管青年人今天通过当今的能源和环境政策在未来产生了巨大的利益，但在地方和国家政策中很少寻求或采取青年人对能源干预的观点。关于非常规页岩气开发（水力压裂或“压裂”）的辩论是一种背景，在这种背景下，当今做出的决定具有长期的代际影响，环境正义与能源需求相交。这项研究调查了年轻人对探索性压裂和相关政治进程的看法和经验，以了解他们在环境正义方面的经验。在深度上 在2019年11月英国宣布暂停开采之前，对84名年轻人进行了定性实地研究，调查地点位于20英里（32公里）可开采的压裂作业现场附近。在分析数据时要注意识别，参与和分配正义。年轻人由于缺乏对青年和农村社区成员的目标和价值观的认识，并被排除在正式参与决策之外，因而经历了环境，民主和社会不公。年轻人看到经济和环境力量与与国家政府紧密联系的产业息息相关，并且经历了信任机构权威的渴望与这些机构的背叛之间的紧张关系。我们认为，对“牺牲区”中年轻人的案例研究证明了去政治化与反政治之间的联系，并且这些过程破坏了对民主的信任。在决策过程中，尤其是在决策的后果世代相传的情况下，需要承认青年人和地方社区并将其有意义地纳入决策。