Environmental movements and social justice movements are connected because environmental harm and access to natural resources are distributed unequally. Although they developed from different histories, they increasingly pursue the shared goal of equitable, healthy and sustainable societies.
This is HL-only content from HL.c Environmental ethics, particularly understanding HL.c.13.
How the connection develops
- Environmental problems are not only ecological. Pollution, climate change, resource depletion and conservation policies also affect health, livelihoods, rights and cultural identity.
- These effects are often unequal. Low-income groups, Indigenous peoples and marginalized communities may face greater pollution exposure while having less influence over decisions.
- This creates environmental justice: the right of all people to live in a pollution-free environment and have equitable access to natural resources, regardless of race, gender, nationality or socioeconomic status.
| Connection | Environmental and social significance | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Unequal pollution exposure | Links ecosystem and human health to discrimination and poverty | The Flint water crisis exposed a predominantly Black, low-income community to lead-contaminated water. |
| Indigenous rights | Connects habitat protection with sovereignty, culture and land rights | Standing Rock opposition to the Dakota Access Pipeline combined water protection with Indigenous rights. |
| Climate justice | Links responsibility for emissions with unequal vulnerability | Lower-income countries generally contributed less to cumulative emissions but may face severe impacts. |
Different ethical perspectives justify this convergence. Consequentialist ethics may oppose environmental harm because of its outcomes, while rights-based ethics emphasizes rights to health, water, land and participation. Ecocentric perspectives can additionally recognize the intrinsic value of ecosystems.
Exam technique
For an HL response, explain the causal connection through unequal impacts, apply environmental justice terminology, and use a named example and a relevant ethical framework. For discuss or examine, consider tensions, such as conservation policies that protect biodiversity but restrict Indigenous access to traditional land.