Environmental Justice Program

Introduction

Generally speaking, environmental justice is concerned with the processes through which inequalities  arise from social, political and environmental decision making, actions and policies. At the local, regional, national, and international levels, environmental justice is interested in the mechanisms that give rise to class, gender and racial disparities in a range of actions and practices including, but not limited to: the increased likelihood of being exposed to environmental hazards; negative impacts of environmental processes and policies; poverty; public health; worker rights and occupational safety; the segregation of jobs, housing, communities, facilities, and public conveyances; unequal access to environmental amenities like parks and playgrounds; inadequate maintenance of open space, streets, and facilities; inequality in the delivery of environmental services like garbage removal and transportation; the appropriation of land, destruction of indigenous cultures, and the abrogation of traditional treaty rights; and the expulsion or removal of people from particular territories. Environmental justice is also concerned with the preservation of land, and the environmental practices and cultures of marginalized peoples; developing sustainable communities; providing multi-cultural environmental education; safeguarding human rights; and shaping new environmental discourses, ethics, policies, and plans for the twenty-first century. Environmental justice has emerged as a field of academic interest because researchers have documented disproportionate exposure to hazardous conditions in communities of color and low-income communities in the U.S. Canada, and some European countries. In addition, hazardous environmental conditions (arising from North-South relations) have been identified in several developing countries. It should be noted that environmental justice is not being articulated solely from an academic perspective. Affected communities and grassroots organizations have been an integral part of the development of this field of inquiry, policy and practice. In essence, environmental justice is being examined from the academic, legal, health, labor, policy, planning, and movement-building perspectives. Consequently, understanding the processes that give rise to environmental inequalities is a necessity for achieving the goal of sustainable societies.

An interdisciplinary, problem-solving approach is crucial to the understanding of how environmental inequalities arise. This is imperative because environmental problems cross local, regional and national boundaries. These transboundary problems also cross disciplinary lines. The countless social, political and environmental problems we face today cannot be solved by taking one disciplinary approach. We must draw on the expertise of several disciplinary areas to solve these complex problems. Thus, while the environmental justice specialization is housed in the School of Natural Resources and Environment (SNRE), it draws on the perspectives of faculty and students from several academic units within the university.

Mission Statement for Environmental Justice

SNRE has been a leader in developing the field of environmental justice research and education. The mission of the environmental justice specialization in SNRE is to produce and disseminate knowledge to faculty, students, policymakers, and general public (both domestically and internationally) about the processes that give rise to environmental inequality and the means of ameliorating conditions. In addition, the environmental justice specialization seeks to help the public and policymakers use scientific information to build sustainable communities worldwide.