Environmental justice conflicts are on the rise worldwide, including in Portugal, as industrial and agro-industrial, energy, mining, transport infrastructure, tourism, and other economic activities expand. EJMapping: Counter-mapping environmental justice conflicts in the European periphery: the case of Portugal proposes a qualitative-quantitative participatory action research project on conflicts and movements for environmental justice in Portugal. The main objectives are to characterise different understandings of environmental justice, analyse environmental conflicts in Portugal, and propose solutions for fair and sustainable development. The aim is to generate practical knowledge to address environmental injustices and promote paths to “fair sustainability” by adapting concepts, methods, and strategies.

To meet these objectives, the project proposes to combine conflict mapping methods with a commitment to listening to the perspectives of those who inhabit the territories and/or have a close relationship with them - an approach we call “counter-mapping”. These methods will enable a) historical analysis of conflicts and struggles for environmental justice in Portugal, b) characterisation of current environmental struggles through a national survey focusing on the post-2018 period, c) the production of a national map (similar to the Environmental Justice Atlas: ejatlas.org), and d) the development of case studies to be selected in the Centro, Alentejo and Algarve regions. In each case study, methods such as interviews, participatory observation, body-territory and environmental health mapping, and routes for collecting images and sounds may be used.

An initial step that we consider important is to create a community of peers who can follow and participate in the project. The degree of involvement of each person depends on their willingness, interest, and availability, as well as how they wish to integrate into the community of peers. Involvement can take place through: a) being informed about project activities and being able to identify future opportunities for engagement, b) offering feedback and critical perspectives based on their experiences, and/or c) co-creating a common vision and objectives for the project in accordance with the environmental struggles established in each territory.

This meeting aims to initiate this process and has the following objectives:

• Present the project and open a first moment of feedback.
• Reflect on opportunities to get involved in the project as participants in the peer community;
• Build a space for mutual listening and learning with people involved in struggles for environmental justice across Portugal's various territories.
• Reflect on the role of the university and research engaged in the struggles for environmental justice in Portugal.

Format: Hybrid with in-person or online options. Open event with mandatory registration (here).
_{Note: Open activities held in digital format, such as this one, do not confer a certificate of participation, as such documents are only issued for events that provide for access and participation control by the institution.}

Contact: ejmapping@ces.uc.pt

Organising Committee (CES-UC): Gustavo García López, Eliane Rapchan, Joana Sousa, Jonas Van Vossole