1.3E Environmental justice and inequality Notes

1. Environmental justice is concerned with the fair and equal distribution of environmental benefits (clean air, clean water, access to natural resources) and environmental burdens (pollution, waste facilities, toxic exposure) among all people.
2. It requires equitable access to environmental health and natural resources, regardless of:
   1. Race or ethnicity
   2. Socio-economic status
   3. Gender
   4. Indigenous identity
   5. Nationality or political power

Environmental Injustice

Why Environmental Injustice Occurs

1. Marginalized communities often have less political and economic power
2. Industrial development and waste disposal sites are frequently located where resistance is least expected
3. Wealthy groups and governments can shift environmental burdens to others
4. Environmental harms are often externalized to poorer or less influential communities

Mechanisms Leading to Environmental Injustice

1. Locating hazardous facilities (landfills, power plants, refineries) in low-income neighborhoods
2. Resource extraction on Indigenous land without consent
3. Export of hazardous waste from wealthy to poorer countries
4. Unequal exposure to air and water pollution
5. Climate change impacts falling hardest on communities with the least adaptive capacity

Forms of Environmental Injustice

1. Local scale: Landfills, toxic waste sites, or factories built near low-income or minority communities.
2. National scale: Unequal enforcement of environmental laws.
3. Global scale: Waste dumping or resource extraction in developing countries that damages ecosystems and communities.

Landfills in Low-Income Areas, USA (Warren County, 1982)- Local scale

1. A hazardous waste landfill for PCB-contaminated soil was built in Warren County, North Carolina, a predominantly Black, low-income community.
2. Residents protested for months, arguing that the site selection reflected racial and economic discrimination.
3. Although the landfill was constructed, the protests gave rise to the Environmental Justice Movement in the USA.
4. It led to future policies that considered social equity in environmental planning.

Plastic Waste Disposal from Developed to Developing Countries- Global Scale

1. Developed nations export plastic waste to Southeast Asian countries such as Malaysia, Vietnam, and Indonesia.
2. These countries lack the capacity to process the waste safely, leading to:
   1. Open burning and toxic emissions
   2. Water contamination and plastic runoff
   3. Health impacts on poor rural communities
3. The wealthy benefit from consumption while poorer nations bear the pollution burden.

Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill (2010) - Global Scale

1. On 20 April 2010, an explosion on the Deepwater Horizon oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico released over 4 million barrels of crude oil into the sea.
2. Environmental Impacts:
   1. Massive destruction of marine ecosystems.
   2. Long-term contamination of coastal habitats.
3. Social and Economic Impacts:
   1. Thousands of fishermen and small businesses lost their livelihoods.
   2. Disproportionate suffering among low-income and minority fishing communities in Louisiana and Mississippi.
4. The cleanup efforts and legal compensation benefited corporations more than affected local communities, revealing inequalities in environmental governance.

Union Carbide Gas Disaster, Bhopal (1984)- Global Scale

1. On the night of 3 December 1984, toxic methyl isocyanate (MIC) gas leaked from the Union Carbide pesticide plant in Bhopal, India.
2. The gas spread through nearby densely populated areas, killing over 15,000 people and injuring hundreds of thousands.
3. Long-term consequences:
   1. Birth defects, respiratory illness, and contaminated groundwater.
   2. Inadequate compensation from the US parent company (Dow Chemical) exposed global inequality in environmental accountability.
4. The poorest and least politically powerful communities suffered the worst consequences.

Maasai Land Rights in Kenya and Tanzania- Global Scale

1. The Maasai, a semi-nomadic pastoralist people, have historically relied on grazing land for cattle herding.
2. Tourism development, wildlife conservation areas, and land privatisation have displaced Maasai communities.
3. National parks such as Serengeti and Amboseli restricted their access to ancestral lands and water sources.
4. The result:
   1. Loss of livelihood
   2. Cultural erosion
   3. Poverty and marginalisation
5. The Maasai now campaign for community-based conservation, allowing shared management of land that balances biodiversity protection and Indigenous rights.

Inequalities lead to Disparities in Access to Water, Food, and Energy

1. Disparities in income, race, gender, and cultural identity lead to unequal access to essential resources like water, food, and energy.
2. Marginalized communities often face barriers due to poverty, discrimination, or government policies, leaving them vulnerable to resource shortages and environmental injustices.

1. Water Inequality: Privatization of Water Sources

1. In many countries, water privatization forces people to pay high prices for access to clean drinking water.
2. Poor communities often cannot afford sufficient water for daily needs.

Why It’s Unjust

1. Water is a basic human right, yet privatization puts profits before people's needs.
2. Low-income groups suffer the most, as they cannot afford the rising costs.

2. Food Inequality: Food Insecurity in Low-Income Countries

1. Unequal access to food is driven by poverty, conflict, and climate change, affecting millions in developing nations.
2. Over 900 million people remain food-insecure while 1/3 of global food is wasted.

Why It’s Unjust

1. Many people go hungry despite the global food surplus due to distribution issues.
2. Wealthier countries can afford to stockpile food, while poorer nations suffer.

3. Energy Inequality: Inability to Afford Electricity

1. Energy access controls:
   1. Education (lighting)
   2. Healthcare (refrigeration of vaccines)
   3. Communication & employment opportunities
2. The wealthiest 10% of the world consume 20× more energy than the poorest 10%.

Why It’s Unjust

1. Lack of electricity affects health, education, and development, keeping communities trapped in poverty.
2. Women and children suffer disproportionately, as they spend more time collecting firewood or cooking with hazardous fuels.

Consequences of Resource Inequality

1. Health impacts: Poor access to clean water or cooking fuel causes disease and premature death.
2. Social instability: Competition for limited resources can cause conflict.
3. Environmental degradation: Overuse by wealthy regions creates unsustainable pressure on ecosystems.
4. Economic stagnation: Energy-poor regions cannot industrialize or attract investment.

Sustainability and Environmental Justice Across Scales

1. Sustainability and environmental justice are interconnected.
   1. Sustainability focuses on balancing environmental, social, and economic systems.
   2. Environmental justice ensures that this balance benefits everyone, not just the wealthy or powerful.
2. These principles must operate at different scales, from individual behaviour to global governance, because the causes and impacts of inequality span across local and international boundaries.

1. Individual Scale

1. Personal consumption choices influence environmental outcomes.
2. Actions include:
   1. Reducing waste
   2. Conserving water & energy
   3. Supporting ethical brands
   4. Voting with purchasing power

2. Business Scale

1. Companies impact resource extraction, pollution, waste and labour conditions.
2. Sustainable business practices:
   1. Ethical supply chains
   2. Emissions reduction programs
   3. Investment in renewable energy
   4. Transparency reporting

3. Community Scale (Local + Indigenous)

1. Communities may manage shared water, forests or grazing lands.
2. Indigenous groups often act as stewards of biodiversity.
3. Community-based conservation can improve ecological and social outcomes.

4. City / Municipal Scale

1. Urban planning decisions influence sustainability:
   1. Public transport accessibility
   2. Green spaces
   3. Waste & sewage systems
   4. Renewable energy installations

5. National Scale

1. Governments shape:
   1. Environmental laws
   2. Emissions targets
   3. Economic policies
   4. Land & water rights
2. Policies determine whether development is inclusive or exploitative.

6. Global Scale

1. Global cooperation is essential because sustainability challenges cross borders.
2. The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) provide a shared framework for tackling poverty, inequality, and environmental degradation.
3. UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs):
   1. SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation
   2. SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
   3. SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities
   4. SDG 13: Climate Action