Léa Tardieu (INRAE-TETIS)
Ethnic minorities are frequently confronted with environmental inequalities, as they are more likely to be exposed to hazardous and polluting facilities. While research on the impact of urban planning policies on shaping these inequalities has been growing, less is known about these impacts in Europe. Even less is known about the disproportionate disamenities faced by the Traveller community. The siting of Traveller sites exemplifies how repeated urban planning decisions over time can lead to a systemic discrimination, as local representatives determine where Travellers are allowed to stay, directly influencing their exposure to environmental disamenities. We constructed an original database that links the siting of Traveller sites in France, with data on socio-economic and environmental characteristics. We developed a statistical analysis demonstrating that Traveller sites are more likely to be implemented in cities with more disamenities and that, sites are more exposed than other residential areas within these cities. Based on our findings, we discuss two potential mechanisms that may underpin this discrimination: monetary cost minimization and discriminatory preferences of local representatives and residents.