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Developing principles of sustainability and stakeholder engagement for “gentle” remediation approaches: the European context

  • Andrew Church
    ,
  • A.B. Cundy
    ,
  • R. Bardos
    ,
  • M. Puschenreiter
    ,
  • W. Friesl-Hanl
    ,
  • I. Müller
Research Output: Contribution to journal Article Peer-review

Sustainable Development Goals

  • SDG 15 - Life on Land
    SDG 15 Life on Land

Abstract

Gentle Remediation Options (GRO) are risk management strategies or techniques for contaminated sites that result in no gross reduction in soil functionality (or a net gain) as well as risk management. Intelligently applied GROs can provide: (a) rapid risk management via pathway control, through containment and stabilisation, coupled with a longer term removal or immobilisation/isolation of the contaminant source term; and (b) a range of additional economic (e.g. biomass generation), social (e.g. leisure and recreation) and environmental (e.g. CO2 sequestration) benefits. In order for these benefits to be optimised or indeed realised, effective stakeholder engagement is required. This paper reviews current sector practice in stakeholder engagement and its importance when implementing GRO and other remediation options. From this, knowledge gaps are identified, and strategies to promote more effective stakeholder engagement during GRO application are outlined. Further work is required on integrating stakeholder engagement strategies into decision support systems and tools for GRO (to raise the profile of the benefits of effective stakeholder engagement and participation, particularly with sector professionals), and developing criteria for the identification of different stakeholder profiles/categories. Demonstrator sites can make a significant contribution to stakeholder engagement via providing evidence on the effectiveness of GRO under varying site contexts and conditions. Effective and sustained engagement strategies however will be required to ensure that site risk is effectively managed over the longer-term, and that full potential benefits of GRO (e.g. CO2 sequestration, economic returns from biomass generation and “leverage” of marginal land, amenity and educational value, ecosystem services) are realised and communicated to stakeholders.

Publication Information

Output type

Research Output: Contribution to journal Article Peer-review

Original language

English

Pages from-to (Number of pages)

Pages 283-291

Journal (Volume, Issue Number)

Journal of Environmental Management (Volume 129)

Publication milestones

  • Accepted/In press - 23/07/2013
  • Published - 22/08/2013

Publication status

Published - 22/08/2013

ISSN

0301-4797

External Publication IDs

  • handle.net: 10547/625155
  • Scopus: 84883011924

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