TiCER Pilot Project 4

Status: Manuscript in medium presentation form
Title: Factors that Contribute to Public Perceptions on Environmental Health Threat Policy
Investigators: Carol Goldsmith, Ki Eun Kang, and Arnold Vedlitz

Abstract
Planners often find themselves caught between conflicting interests among the supposedly complementary aims of economic growth, environmental protection, and equitable distribution and must mediate the affected parties in the public engagement process. Identifying the factors that contribute to public perceptions and behaviors is an important first step in finding common ground and pathways out of the sustainability dilemma. The conflicts have been heightened through the global pandemic, continued climate change, and accumulation of environmental stressors from natural and anthropogenic activities; while consensus does not have to be the goal, leaving conflicts unaddressed is likely to undermine the effectiveness of programs implemented to address health challenges resulting from environmental risks, as these challenges cut across multiple sectors and domains. Therefore, it is necessary to examine how agents, arenas, and areas of policy approach align to make the most of public engagement in planning for healthy and resilient communities.

Using a resident survey from Harris and Hidalgo counties in Texas, this paper seeks answers to:

• RQ-1: What explains residents’ willingness to participate in public policy hearings or discussions and action to reduce exposure to pathogens, toxins, and irritants?
• RQ-2: How does public support for certain types of interventions and perception about accountability (not) align with policy adoption, program implementation, and funding allocation?