Articles | Volume 16, issue 1
https://doi.org/10.5194/we-16-67-2016
Special issue:
https://doi.org/10.5194/we-16-67-2016
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01 Mar 2016
Short communication | Highlight paper |  | 01 Mar 2016

Biodiversity offsetting in England: governance rescaling, socio-spatial injustices, and the neoliberalization of nature

Evangelia Apostolopoulou

Abstract. In this paper, I use primary empirical data obtained through interviews in selected case studies around England to shed light on the neoliberal character of biodiversity offsetting, its interrelationship with governance rescaling processes, and the way the latter influences the distribution of the costs and benefits of biodiversity offsetting policies. My results show that biodiversity offsetting in England has been a reactionary neoliberal policy whose implementation has so far been characterized by important deficits from an environmental and socio-spatial justice perspective.

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Short summary
I use primary empirical data obtained through interviews in case studies around England to explore the neoliberal character of biodiversity offsetting, its interrelationship with governance rescaling, and the way the latter influences the distribution of offsetting’s costs and benefits. My results show that biodiversity offsetting in England has been a reactionary neoliberal policy characterized by important deficits from an environmental and socio-spatial justice perspective.
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