Environmental Justice Framework

Throughout the context of history justice seems to be a universal societal issue and it is

frequently seen as a notable desirable social asset. The universal presence of unresolved issues

and conflicts at different levels of human interactions are pure evidences of call for justice. When

we talk about justice as concerned with relationships and interaction of human beings with each

other as a social concept is still right so, but in contemporary time there is an emerging

realization for the call for justice; that is our relationships as human beings-as species with the

rest of the natural ecosphere. The environment justice framework gives legitimacy to the

concerns and voices of the less privileged and environmental victims and this framework

incorporates a much required correction to the global view of the “environmentalism of the rich”

[ CITATION Low98 \l 1033 ]. The framework seeks to stop environmental threats before they

happen.

Environmental justice as the name suggests is not totally based on the environment but its

politics and it rejects the notion that poverty is the sole cause of environmental degradation as

poor contributes to pollution. The disruption of environment or environmental injustice is the

base for political aspects because big companies dump dangerous chemicals and contaminants in

areas known to house the poor. “Environmental injustice result from decisions made by all

parties which may seem contradictory or change over time with shifting circumstances in

opposition to the simple Them vs. Us or Perpetrator-Victim frame” [ CITATION Pel05 \l 1033 ].

Likewise, many of the environmentalists and global thinkers argue that ““inequality is the

planet’s main environmental problem” but the main question arises here “inequality of what?” or

more specifically “equality of what?”. As [ CITATION Bul00 \l 1033 ] has put that environmental

justice framework brings equality among individuals to be protected from environmental

degradation. This is the answer to the question asked above as what kind of equality is required

among individuals and it gives the environmental victims the right to challenge the polluters who

harm the vulnerable communities.

Conclusively, it is evident that we as humans are responsible as inhabitants of the planet are

responsible for what happens to this world. The contemporary planet state demands our attention

to justice. But since as inhabitants of this planet earth our contributions both contemporary and

historical towards environmental benefits and harms, are not of the same kind and order,

especially at this time the curve between harms and goods must not be equal but just

differentiated is justice is to be done. In the past years the environment was not taken sensibly

and the current situation is still the same, but both ethics and rationality demand that its future

fate, if there is to be one besides the universal degradation and climate change, a sustainable one

must be treated responsibly.

Contributed by

Fariha Mansoor
Works Cited
Bullard, R. (2000). Environmental justice in the 21st century. People of color environmental groups, 1-21.

Low, N., & Gleeson, B. (1998). Situating justice in the environment: the case of BHP at the OK Tedi
Copper Mine. Antipode. 201-226.

Pellow, D. N., & Brulle, R. (2005). Power, justice, and the environment. MIT.