NATURE PRESENTATION

PRESENTAtIon ON

ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE

Index

• IMPACT OF ENVIRONMENTAL INJUSTICE

• DEFINITION

• IMPORTANCE

• ADDDRESSING ENVIRONMENTAL INJUSTICE

• HISTORICAL CONTEXT

• ENVIRONMENTAL INJUSTICE

• CONCLUSIONS

DEFINITION OF ENVIRONMEMTAL JUSTICE

Environmental justice is the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, national origin, or income, with respect to the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies.

IMPORTANCE OF ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE

• EQUITY : ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE AIMS TO ENSURE THAT ALL INDIVIDUALS,REGARDLESS OF THRIR RACE,INCOME,OR OTHER SOCIAL FACTORS, HAVE ACCCESS TO A SAFE AND HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT. THIS IS AN ISSUE OF EQUITY AND FAIRNESS,AS HISTORICALLLY MARGINALISED COMMUNITIES HAVE OFTEN BEEN UNFAIRLY BURDENEDWITH ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS SUCH AS POLLUTION AND TOXIC WASTE

• DEMOCRACY : ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE IS A MATTER OF DEMOCRACY AND COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT.BY GIVING MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES A VOICE IN ENVIRONENTAL DECISION MAKING AND POLICY DEVELOPMENT,WE CAN PROMOTE SOCIAL JUSTICE AND ENSURE THAT ALL INDIVIDUALS HAVE A SAY IN SHAPING THEIR ENVIRONMENT AND THEIR FURTURE.

• Sustainability: Environmental justice is also essential for achieving sustainability. By addressing environmental issues and promoting sustainable practices, we can create a more just and resilient society that is better able to withstand the challenges of climate change and other environmental threats.

• HEALTH : ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE IS CRUCIAL FORPROTECTING PUBLIC HEALTH.EXPOSURE TO ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS CAN LEAD TO SERIOUS HEALTH PROBLEMS,SUCH AS RESPIRATORY DISEASES,CANCER,AND BIRTH DEFECTS.BY ADDRESSING ENVIRONMENTAL INJUSTICE,WE CAN IMPROVE PUBLIC HEALTH AND REDUCE HEALTH COSTS

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

The history of environmental justice can be traced back to the 1960s and 1970s when concerns about the health and environmental impacts of industrialization began to emerge. During this period, communities across the United States, particularly low-income neighborhoods and communities of color, began to mobilize against the siting of hazardous waste facilities, incinerators, and other polluting industries in their communities. The environmental justice movement as we know it today emerged in the 1980s, when a series of high-profile cases brought attention to the disproportionate burden of environmental pollution and harm on low-income and minority communities. In 1982, the predominantly African American community of Warren County, North Carolina, protested against the state's decision to locate a PCB landfill in their area. This protest was one of the first major environmental justice actions in the United States.

EMERGENCE OF ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE MOVEMENT IN USA

The Environmental Justice movement emerged in the United States in the 1980s, in response to growing awareness that low-income and minority communities were often targeted for hazardous waste facilities and other environmentally harmful activities. One of the first major environmental justice actions occurred in 1982 in Warren County, North Carolina.A predominantly African American community protested against the state's decision to locate a PCB landfill in their area. This protest sparked a wave of environmental justice activism across the country. In 1983, a coalition of groups formed the United Church of Christ's Commission for Racial Justice, which released a report titled "Toxic Wastes and Race in the United States." The report found that hazardous waste sites were disproportionately located in communities of color and low-income communities. The report helped to bring national attention to the issue of environmental racism and was instrumental in shaping the environmental justice movement.

Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, the environmental justice movement gained momentum, with activists and organizations working to address the root causes of environmental injustice, including poverty, racism, and unequal access to political power. In 1991, the First National People of Color Environmental Leadership Summit was held in Washington, D.C., bringing together environmental justice leaders from across the country to develop a national agenda for the movement. In 1994, President Bill Clinton signed Executive Order 12898, which required federal agencies to address environmental justice concerns in their decision-making processes and to ensure that low-income and minority communities are not disproportionately burdened by environmental pollution and harm. The executive order was a major victory for the environmental justice movement, providing a framework for addressing environmental injustices at the federal level.

GLOBAL MOVEMENT FOR ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE

The Environmental Justice movement is not limited to the United States and has become a global movement, with advocates and organizations working to ensure that all people, regardless of their race, ethnicity, or socio-economic status, have equal access to clean air, water, and a healthy environment. Here are some key examples of the global movement for environmental justice:30

• Climate Justice: Climate change is a global environmental threat that disproportionately affects the most vulnerable communities, including those in the Global South and low-income communities in industrialized countries. The climate justice movement seeks to address the unequal impacts of climate change and advocate for policies that prioritize the needs of those most affected. This includes demands for climate reparations, which would require wealthy nations to provide financial and technological support to poorer nations to help them transition to a more sustainable future.

• The Global South: Many communities in the Global South, including Indigenous communities and those living in poverty, are disproportionately affected by environmental pollution and degradation. Grassroots organizations and community activists across the Global South have been working to raise awareness about environmental injustices and demand change. One notable example is the Niger Delta region in Nigeria, where local communities have long been fighting against the environmental impacts of oil extraction.

• Global Activism: The environmental justice movement has also become a global movement, with activists from all over the world coming together to demand change. The People's Climate March, which took place in cities around the world in 2014 and 2019, brought together people from all walks of life to demand action on climate change and environmental justice.

• Environmental Justice in Europe: Environmental justice is also an important issue in Europe, where low-income and marginalized communities often bear the brunt of environmental pollution and degradation. In the UK, for example, studies have found that air pollution is disproportionately concentrated in low-income neighborhoods and communities of color.

ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE ISSUES

Environmental justice issues refer to instances where low-income communities, communities of color, and marginalized groups disproportionately bear the brunt of environmental pollution and degradation. Here are some examples of environmental justice issues:

Environmental pollution often has disproportionate impacts on marginalized communities, including low-income communities, communities of color, and Indigenous communities.

• Limited Access to Resources: Marginalized communities often have limited access to resources that can help mitigate the impacts of environmental pollution, such as air conditioning or water filtration systems. This can exacerbate the health impacts of pollution and lead to greater economic burdens for affected communities.

• Location of Pollution Sources: Polluting facilities are often located in or near marginalized communities, such as low-income neighborhoods or communities of color. This leads to higher levels of exposure to pollutants, such as air and water pollution, and can lead to a range of health problems.

• Air Pollution: Air pollution is a major environmental justice issue, as low-income communities and communities of color are often located near industrial facilities, highways, and other sources of pollution. This leads to higher rates of respiratory illnesses and other health problems.

• Toxic Waste: Low-income communities and communities of color are often targeted for the disposal of toxic waste, such as landfills or hazardous waste facilities. This can have serious health consequences, as exposure to toxic waste can lead to a range of health problems, including cancer and birth defects.

Intersectionality of social, economic, and environmental factors

Intersectionality refers to the interconnected nature of social, economic, and environmental factors that shape an individual's experiences and opportunities. In the context of environmental justice, intersectionality is crucial for understanding the complex ways in which social, economic, and environmental factors can intersect to create unequal impacts on marginalized communities.

• Race and Environmental Pollution: Communities of color are often located near sources of environmental pollution, such as industrial facilities and highways. This is due in part to historical racism and discriminatory policies that have concentrated pollution in these communities. As a result, people of color experience higher rates of health problems related to pollution.

• Gender and Food Justice: Women are often responsible for feeding their families, and may face additional barriers to accessing healthy and affordable food options. This can have health implications for women and their families, including higher rates of diet-related illnesses.

EXAMPLES OF ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE

Agricultural workers' exposure to pesticides

Urban air pollution and its impact on public health

Increasing public participation in decision-making processes is crucial for ensuring that all voices are heard and that decisions are made with the input of those who will be impacted.

• Education and Awareness: Education and awareness campaigns can help to inform the public about upcoming decisions and the potential impacts of those decisions. This can help to increase public interest and engagement in the decision-making process.

• Outreach to Marginalized Communities: Marginalized communities may be less likely to participate in decision-making processes due to historical injustices and systemic barriers. Outreach efforts targeted at these communities can help to ensure that their voices are heard and that decisions are made with their input.

• Alternative Engagement Methods: Traditional public meetings may not be accessible to all members of the public, particularly those with mobility issues or childcare responsibilities. Alternative engagement methods, such as online surveys or community workshops, can help to increase participation from a wider range of community members.

CHALLENGES TO ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE

Climate change and other global environmental threats

Climate change is one of the most pressing global environmental threats that we face today. Rising temperatures, melting ice caps, and more frequent extreme weather events are all evidence of the impact that climate change is having on our planet. However, climate change is just one of several global environmental threats that we face.

• Biodiversity Loss: The loss of biodiversity is a major global environmental threat. Human activities, such as deforestation and habitat destruction, are leading to the extinction of many species. This loss of biodiversity can have cascading impacts on ecosystems and can ultimately threaten our own survival.

• Deforestation: Deforestation is a major global environmental threat, particularly in tropical regions. Deforestation contributes to climate change by releasing carbon dioxide into the atmosphere and also has impacts on biodiversity and the livelihoods of local communities. Overall, addressing global environment

• Plastic Pollution: Plastic pollution is a growing global environmental threat. Single-use plastics, such as straws and plastic bags, are polluting our oceans and harming marine life. Microplastics, which are tiny particles of plastic, are also becoming more prevalent in our environment and are causing concern about their impacts on human health.

Continued marginalization and lack of resources for vulnerable communities are major challenges when it comes to achieving environmental justice. Marginalized communities, such as low-income communities and communities of color, are often disproportionately impacted by environmental pollution and other environmental threats. These communities may be more likely to live near polluting industries or in areas with poor air and water quality. They may also have less access to green spaces and other environmental amenities. Lack of resources can exacerbate these environmental injustices. For example, communities that lack access to affordable healthy food options may be more likely to experience diet-related health problems. Lack of affordable housing can also impact the health and well-being of community members, particularly when it comes to exposure to environmental hazards. To address these challenges, it is important to take a holistic approach to environmental justice that considers the social, economic, and environmental factors that contribute to environmental injustices.

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• Engaging with Vulnerable Communities: Engaging with vulnerable communities and seeking their input can help to ensure that their needs and concerns are being heard and addressed.

• Equitable Access to Resources: Ensuring that all communities have equitable aGreen Infrastructure: Investing in green infrastructure, such as parks and green roofs, can help to improve air and water quality and provide access to green spaces for all communities.ccess to resources, such as healthy food and affordable housing, can help to reduce disparities in health and well-being.

• Green Infrastructure: Investing in green infrastructure, such as parks and green roofs, can help to improve air and water quality and provide access to green spaces for all communities.

• Environmental Regulations and Enforcement: Strong environmental regulations and enforcement can help to ensure that polluting industries are held accountable and that all communities have access to clean air and water.

Importance of continued advocacy and commitment to equitable solutions

Continued advocacy and commitment to equitable solutions are crucial for achieving environmental justice. Environmental justice issues are often complex and deeply rooted in systemic social, economic, and environmental factors. Therefore, addressing these issues requires sustained advocacy efforts and a commitment to creating equitable solutions. Advocacy is important because it raises awareness of environmental justice issues and puts pressure on decision-makers to take action. Through advocacy, community members and organizations can bring attention to environmental injustices and work to hold polluting industries accountable. Advocacy can also help to ensure that the needs and concerns of marginalized communities are being heard and addressed in decision-making processes. In addition to advocacy, a commitment to equitable solutions is essential for achieving environmental justice. This means prioritizing solutions that benefit all communities, especially those that are most vulnerable to environmental threats. Equitable solutions may involve investing in green infrastructure, such as public transportation and parks, that benefit all members of a community, regardless of income or race. Equitable solutions may also involve ensuring that all communities have access to clean air and water, healthy food options, and affordable housing.

Creating a more just and sustainable world for all people requires a comprehensive approach that addresses social, economic, and environmental issues. This approach must prioritize equity and justice, and must involve collaboration and action at all levels, from local communities to global institutions.

• Reducing Inequality: Addressing economic inequality is critical for creating a more just and sustainable world. This may involve policies that promote fair wages, access to education and healthcare, and other measures that help to reduce poverty and inequality.

• Promoting International Cooperation: Promoting international cooperation is critical for addressing global environmental challenges, such as climate change and biodiversity loss. This involves working together to set and achieve ambitious goals for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, protecting biodiversity, and creating a more just and sustainable world for all people.

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GROUP MEMBERS

• SHREYA MORE
• KAUSTUBH MHATRE
• ABHISHEK LAHERWANI
• SHREEPRASAD KOPPAR