Environmental Justice

Definition

Environmental justice is the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people, regardless of race, ethnicity, or income, in environmental decision-making processes. This concept highlights the need for equitable distribution of environmental benefits and burdens, ensuring that marginalized communities are not disproportionately affected by environmental hazards and climate change impacts.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Environmental justice emerged as a movement in the 1980s, particularly in response to the siting of hazardous waste facilities in predominantly low-income and minority neighborhoods.
2. It emphasizes the importance of involving affected communities in environmental decision-making processes to ensure their voices are heard and considered.
3. Key principles of environmental justice include prevention of harm, equitable distribution of resources, and the right to a healthy environment for all individuals.
4. The concept is not just about addressing existing inequalities but also about transforming policies and practices to prevent future injustices from occurring.
5. Environmental justice advocates argue that achieving social equity requires addressing both environmental issues and systemic inequalities that affect marginalized communities.

Review Questions

• How does the concept of environmental justice address disparities in environmental decision-making?
  • Environmental justice seeks to address disparities by ensuring that all individuals, particularly those from marginalized communities, have equal opportunities to participate in environmental decision-making processes. This means recognizing that many low-income and minority populations often bear a disproportionate burden from environmental hazards. By advocating for their inclusion, the movement aims to create fair policies that consider the needs and perspectives of these communities, ultimately leading to more equitable outcomes.
• Discuss how environmental racism contributes to the need for environmental justice initiatives.
  • Environmental racism contributes to the need for environmental justice initiatives by highlighting how systemic racism leads to minority communities being located near sources of pollution and environmental hazards. These areas often suffer from higher rates of health issues due to contaminated air, water, and soil. Environmental justice initiatives aim to combat this inequity by advocating for policy changes that protect vulnerable communities, ensuring they have access to clean environments and are not disproportionately impacted by industrial activities.
• Evaluate the relationship between climate justice and environmental justice, and how both concepts work together to promote equitable solutions.
  • Climate justice and environmental justice are closely related concepts that together advocate for equitable solutions in addressing both climate change and broader environmental issues. While environmental justice focuses on fair treatment in environmental decision-making across various contexts, climate justice emphasizes the unique impacts of climate change on marginalized populations. Both concepts work together by demanding that policies aimed at combating climate change consider social equity, ensuring that vulnerable communities receive support and resources necessary for adaptation and resilience. This integrated approach fosters a more just society where all individuals can thrive in a healthy environment.

Related terms

Environmental Racism: A form of discrimination where minority communities are disproportionately exposed to environmental hazards and pollution due to policies and practices that prioritize industrial interests over community health.

Sustainability: The ability to meet present needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs, often linked to environmental justice through the promotion of equitable resource use.

Climate Justice: A subset of environmental justice that focuses on the disproportionate impact of climate change on marginalized communities, advocating for their rights and needs in climate action strategies.