2026/05/22 by Lauren E. Mullenbach, Olivia G. VanBuskirk · 1 voice
Social Sciences · Environmental Science · #Climate Change Communication and Perception #Environmental Justice and Health Disparities #Sustainability and Climate Change Governance
paper · doi:10.1080/1523908x.2026.2656785
openalex publication_date 2026/05/22 · openalex created_date 2026/05/23 · openalex updated_date 2026/06/14
Cities across the United States are preparing for the impacts of climate change by developing adaptation or action plans. In the south-central U.S., cities that would like to address climate change often face many barriers, including fiscal challenges, state pre-emption, or citizen pushback. Drawing on principles of grounded theory, this study investigates climate ac tion planning in Fayetteville, Arkansas, a university town in a conservative state. Through interviews with city decision-makers, local environmental organizations, and involved residents, this work highlights the tensions municipalities must navigate when planning for climate change. In addition, despite their best efforts, cities such as Fayetteville often reproduce existing inequities when acting on climate change as their ability to implement transformational changes is often heavily limited. As a result, low-income communities of color in Fayetteville, and similar cities, remain more vulnerable to the impacts of a warmer and more unpredictable world.