In the context of the crisis of multilateralism following the 2008 financial crisis, projects financed by multilateral organizations have exacerbated socio-environmental conflicts in the Global South, particularly in Latin America. The conflict mediation processes conducted by Accountability Mechanisms are expected to result in socio-environmental reparations, a claim that has been disputed by affected communities. This article analyzes the conflicts surrounding International Financial Institution (IFI) Financing in development projects for cities and regions in the Global South. The question is: how have Independent Accountability Mechanisms (IAMs) addressed environmental injustices resulting from projects financed by International Financial Institutions? To understand this issue, the objective of the research is to understand the accountability strategies of the Independent Mechanisms and the sustainability discourse of Multilateral Organizations. The research focus was defined based on the activities of Independent Accountability Mechanisms (IAMs), which organized several virtual meetings with civil society during 2020 and 2021. The methodology employed participant observation, with findings documented in a field notebook. The theoretical framework draws on the concept of environmental justice, both in its American version, as articulated by Dr. Robert Bullard, and its Latin American counterpart, often referred to as the 'environmentalism of the poor,' by Joan Martínez Alier. The results revealed the limitations of IAMs in mediating and investigating violations of social and environmental safeguards. Socio-environmental reparations for communities affected by projects funded by International Financial Institutions (IFIs) fall outside the scope of IAMs' activities. Additionally, the IFIs have not established socio-environmental reparation funds for these affected communities. The data collected through participant observation and recorded in the field notebook were interpreted and analyzed within this theoretical framework. These findings can provide valuable insights to improve decision-making processes, promoting greater equity and sustainability in the relationships between IFIs and communities impacted by large-scale projects in Latin America.
| Published in | Urban and Regional Planning (Volume 9, Issue 4) |
| DOI | 10.11648/j.urp.20240904.12 |
| Page(s) | 137-145 |
| Creative Commons |
This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited. |
| Copyright |
Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group |
Environmental Justice, Neoliberalism, Accountability, Social Movements, Multilateral Organizations
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APA Style
Silva, D. D. A., Fantin, M. (2024). Environmental Injustice and Multilateral Financing: Conflicts Between International Financial Institutions and Communities in Latin America. Urban and Regional Planning, 9(4), 137-145. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.urp.20240904.12
ACS Style
Silva, D. D. A.; Fantin, M. Environmental Injustice and Multilateral Financing: Conflicts Between International Financial Institutions and Communities in Latin America. Urban Reg. Plan. 2024, 9(4), 137-145. doi: 10.11648/j.urp.20240904.12
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Download@article{10.11648/j.urp.20240904.12,
author = {Douglas de Almeida Silva and Marcel Fantin},
title = {Environmental Injustice and Multilateral Financing: Conflicts Between International Financial Institutions and Communities in Latin America
},
journal = {Urban and Regional Planning},
volume = {9},
number = {4},
pages = {137-145},
doi = {10.11648/j.urp.20240904.12},
url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.urp.20240904.12},
eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.urp.20240904.12},
abstract = {In the context of the crisis of multilateralism following the 2008 financial crisis, projects financed by multilateral organizations have exacerbated socio-environmental conflicts in the Global South, particularly in Latin America. The conflict mediation processes conducted by Accountability Mechanisms are expected to result in socio-environmental reparations, a claim that has been disputed by affected communities. This article analyzes the conflicts surrounding International Financial Institution (IFI) Financing in development projects for cities and regions in the Global South. The question is: how have Independent Accountability Mechanisms (IAMs) addressed environmental injustices resulting from projects financed by International Financial Institutions? To understand this issue, the objective of the research is to understand the accountability strategies of the Independent Mechanisms and the sustainability discourse of Multilateral Organizations. The research focus was defined based on the activities of Independent Accountability Mechanisms (IAMs), which organized several virtual meetings with civil society during 2020 and 2021. The methodology employed participant observation, with findings documented in a field notebook. The theoretical framework draws on the concept of environmental justice, both in its American version, as articulated by Dr. Robert Bullard, and its Latin American counterpart, often referred to as the 'environmentalism of the poor,' by Joan Martínez Alier. The results revealed the limitations of IAMs in mediating and investigating violations of social and environmental safeguards. Socio-environmental reparations for communities affected by projects funded by International Financial Institutions (IFIs) fall outside the scope of IAMs' activities. Additionally, the IFIs have not established socio-environmental reparation funds for these affected communities. The data collected through participant observation and recorded in the field notebook were interpreted and analyzed within this theoretical framework. These findings can provide valuable insights to improve decision-making processes, promoting greater equity and sustainability in the relationships between IFIs and communities impacted by large-scale projects in Latin America.
},
year = {2024}
}
TY - JOUR T1 - Environmental Injustice and Multilateral Financing: Conflicts Between International Financial Institutions and Communities in Latin America AU - Douglas de Almeida Silva AU - Marcel Fantin Y1 - 2024/11/11 PY - 2024 N1 - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.urp.20240904.12 DO - 10.11648/j.urp.20240904.12 T2 - Urban and Regional Planning JF - Urban and Regional Planning JO - Urban and Regional Planning SP - 137 EP - 145 PB - Science Publishing Group SN - 2575-1697 UR - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.urp.20240904.12 AB - In the context of the crisis of multilateralism following the 2008 financial crisis, projects financed by multilateral organizations have exacerbated socio-environmental conflicts in the Global South, particularly in Latin America. The conflict mediation processes conducted by Accountability Mechanisms are expected to result in socio-environmental reparations, a claim that has been disputed by affected communities. This article analyzes the conflicts surrounding International Financial Institution (IFI) Financing in development projects for cities and regions in the Global South. The question is: how have Independent Accountability Mechanisms (IAMs) addressed environmental injustices resulting from projects financed by International Financial Institutions? To understand this issue, the objective of the research is to understand the accountability strategies of the Independent Mechanisms and the sustainability discourse of Multilateral Organizations. The research focus was defined based on the activities of Independent Accountability Mechanisms (IAMs), which organized several virtual meetings with civil society during 2020 and 2021. The methodology employed participant observation, with findings documented in a field notebook. The theoretical framework draws on the concept of environmental justice, both in its American version, as articulated by Dr. Robert Bullard, and its Latin American counterpart, often referred to as the 'environmentalism of the poor,' by Joan Martínez Alier. The results revealed the limitations of IAMs in mediating and investigating violations of social and environmental safeguards. Socio-environmental reparations for communities affected by projects funded by International Financial Institutions (IFIs) fall outside the scope of IAMs' activities. Additionally, the IFIs have not established socio-environmental reparation funds for these affected communities. The data collected through participant observation and recorded in the field notebook were interpreted and analyzed within this theoretical framework. These findings can provide valuable insights to improve decision-making processes, promoting greater equity and sustainability in the relationships between IFIs and communities impacted by large-scale projects in Latin America. VL - 9 IS - 4 ER -
Institute of Architecture and Urbanism, University of São Paulo, São Carlos, Brazil
Institute of Architecture and Urbanism, University of São Paulo, São Carlos, Brazil
