Due to its broad definition1, environmental justice may come across as vague and therefore potentially weak. The following text expands and the diagram that accompanies it illustrates its coverage.
PROCESS
IMPACTS ON WELL-BEING
LEGITIMACY
hinged to
CONSERVATION EFFECTIVENESS & CONSERVATION EFFICIENCY
Escazú Agreement
The Escazú Agreement is a regional agreement in Latin America and the Caribbean that shields (defender) rights pertaining to access to information, public participation and environmental justice.
FOI TT
To effectively utilise the Freedom of Information Act (1999) to access information on environmental matters, thereby enhancing transparency and accountability.
Participate in policy and advocate for inclusive environmental governance.
Environmental issues are best handled with participation of all concerned citizens, at the relevant level.
Environmental justice argues for the fair and meaningful involvement of all people, regardless of race, income, or background, in environmental decision-making and the equitable distribution of environmental benefits and burdens.
Key Principles
Distributive Justice: Ensuring that environmental risks and benefits are distributed fairly, so that no community bears a disproportionate burden of pollution or lacks access to environmental resources.
Procedural Justice: Guaranteeing fair and meaningful participation in environmental decision-making processes, including access to information and opportunities to be heard.
Recognition Justice: Acknowledging and addressing the historical and ongoing oppression and marginalization that disproportionately affects environmental justice communities.
Why Environmental Justice Matters:
Health Disparities: Environmental injustice can lead to increased exposure to pollutants, resulting in higher rates of respiratory illnesses, cancer, and other health problems in marginalized communities.
Economic Inequality: Pollution and environmental degradation can disproportionately impact the livelihoods and economic opportunities of low-income communities.
Social Inequities: Environmental injustice perpetuates existing social inequalities and can lead to further marginalization and discrimination.
Moral Imperative: Environmental justice is a matter of fundamental fairness and human rights, as all people deserve to live in a healthy and safe environment.
Added Value
Increased ecological protection and safety within disadvantaged communities.
Expand cultural awareness and address potential language barriers.
Promote environmental education.
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Environmental justice is the fair treatment of people of all races, income, and cultures with respect to the development, implementation and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies, and their meaningful involvement in the decision-making processes of the government. ↩︎