Opportunities for more ecologically centred and equitable relations in local government environmental discourse: insights from Victoria, Australia

Abstract

The environment is a complex, life-sustaining, biocultural system. In the context of climate change, biodiversity decline, social inequalities, and calls for transformative change, it is crucial to examine how the environment is represented in policy because environmental representations have implications for governance and material effects. Policy documents express values and shape responsibilities and actions, and power is imbued in the representations and discourses that underpin them. Local government has increasing responsibilities and expectations in relation to the environment, and unique opportunities and constraints including its proximity to the people and environments it represents. This research narrows in to analyse local government discourses in legislated four-year plans in metropolitan Melbourne, Australia, for a detailed example of environmental discourses within a time and place. We ask — what are the distinct and overlapping characteristics of environmental discourses within local governments’ strategic plans, and what opportunities do they present towards more ecologically centred and equitable representations? Drawing on a taxonomy of environmental discourses developed by John Dryzek, we find alignments that indicate the dominant discourses are “reformist”. However, there are divergences that lean into the more “radical” discourses through their focus on relationships of care and stewardship of the environment, and qualitative representations of diverse communities and recognition of their political capabilities. We draw on these findings to consider opportunities and challenges of extending environmental discourses in policy towards a relational approach that centres nature and social equity.

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