Environmental conflict management. [Three case studies]

Journal Article · Tue Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1980 · Environ. Prof.; (United States)

OSTI ID:6940819

Carpenter, S L; Kennedy, W J.D.

As we enter the 1980s, increasing and competing demands for dwindling supplies of natural resources are creating more and more environmental conflicts, and these conflicts are becoming increasingly complex and severe. Most, if not all, environmental controversies involve technical questions, and it is easy to assume that if technical solutions can be identified, a conflict will be resolved. Our experience indicates that problems are a mixture of substantive issues, personal motives, and current and past relationships. To be effective, conflict management strategy must address all of these areas. While accurate and consistent data are essential to understanding technical issues, efforts to solve environmental problems in terms of purely technical criteria often cause more conflicts than they resolve. Ways to incorporate personal concerns and relationship problems into the development of a conflict-management strategy are discussed. Three case studies are provided to illustrate ideas suggested in the paper.

• Research Organization: ROMCOE, Center for Environmental Problem Solving, Boulder, CO
• OSTI ID: 6940819
• Journal Information: Environ. Prof.; (United States), Journal Name: Environ. Prof.; (United States) Vol. 2:1; ISSN EPROD
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
290300* -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Environment
Health
& Safety
ENVIRONMENT
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
EVALUATION
MANAGEMENT
MEDIATION
SOCIAL IMPACT