Enriching Communication Channels and Styles for Public Participation in Environmental Justice

Abstract

Environmental justice is closely related to corrective justice, procedural justice, and meaningful public participation. Effective communication of research-based evidence is critical but often overlooked in environmental decision-making processes. This article examines how scientific research findings frequently fail to influence policy decisions due to communication barriers between researchers, communities, and decision-makers. We propose that effective science communication strategies, including the accessible translation of complex findings into formats understandable to diverse stakeholders, can bridge this gap. This article advocates for adopting journalistic communication styles, strengthening evidence-based arguments, and strategically using mass media channels as specific approaches to simultaneously motivate greater public participation in decision-making processes although making scientific evidence more accessible and compelling for policymakers.