What are the key hurdles towards achieving environmental justice, and what would be
required politically to overcome them?
INTRODUCTION
Define environmental justice from different perspective.
Fairness and equal opportunities.
Can we all be treated equally?
1.Chose definition that seeks to involve justice not only to groups in the human race but
also account for justice for future generations and all species in the ecosystem.
2. Explore some of the fundamental flow in how environmental justice is defined.
Has the selfish interest as humans or our quest for survival influence as to consider
biodiversity in exploring environmental justice because of the precautionary principle. That
we protect other species because we think they may be useful to us in future.
Are we selfless or opportunistic?
Are our survival extinct against other species trickle down within ourselves that we want to
benefit at the expense of ourselves.
Explore discrimination and racism; superpowers and third wold countries. Identify groups
that are subject to environmental injustices.
MAIN BODY
How would an ideal environment justice look like. Complete fairness and equity.
Has it been achieved? No but to what extent.
Explore the reasons why
Urbanisation
The rise of Megacities creating geographical locations where waste is disposed of.
Sustainable challenges in concentrated in cities
(un urban agenda,2016) cities can make contributions
Urbanisation vs. rural areas. Explore urban carrying capacity limits being reached making
urban areas to depend on rural area for resources and yet dumping their waste on them.
Capitalism
Creating industries in one region whist the benefits are enjoyed in another.
Example Apple in China;
Unfair distribution of wealth and resources
Discrimination, segregation and racism
Globalism
Neo-colonialism
Poverty
Political influence to bring about change.
Empowerment of international non-bias organisation to generate and enforce fair
environmental policies.
moving beyond the sovereignty of individual countries to an international governance
system with the interest of the planet as its core value.
Compensatory justice- compensation for countries that will have to forgo the industrial
trajectory followed by developed country to achieve prosperity. Equity issues
Ozone multilateral fund compensation when the west wanted to stop cfc use but India
wanted to.
Group participation on environmental issues
circulation of information to all stakeholders
Conclusion
Globalisation would be a key. However, individual countries being sovereign with their own
interest would not permit this.
Reference
Russia wouldn’t mind a few degrees in climate because 2 degrees in temperatures will
release land for agriculture but EU argued differently that it will result in.
Who pays for hurricanes and extreme whether?
Impacts not directly to emitters