17.3 Environmental Justice and Sustainability

Environmental justice tackles the unequal distribution of environmental burdens on marginalized communities. It highlights how certain groups face greater exposure to pollution and health risks due to systemic inequalities in policy and enforcement.

Sustainable economic models aim to balance growth with environmental protection. These approaches, like green and circular economies, focus on resource efficiency, waste reduction, and renewable energy to create a more sustainable future for all.

Environmental Justice

Disproportionate Environmental Impacts on Marginalized Communities

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• Environmental equity ensures fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people in environmental decision-making, regardless of race, color, national origin, or income
• Disproportionate environmental impacts occur when certain communities, often low-income or communities of color, bear a greater burden of environmental hazards (toxic waste sites, polluting industries)
• Environmental racism refers to the systemic discrimination in environmental policy-making and enforcement that leads to these disproportionate impacts on marginalized communities
• Intergenerational equity considers the rights of future generations to inherit a healthy environment and access to natural resources, requiring sustainable practices to preserve these for the future

Environmental Health Disparities

• Environmental health focuses on how environmental factors affect human health and well-being
• Marginalized communities often face greater exposure to environmental hazards that can lead to adverse health outcomes (asthma, cancer, developmental disorders)
• These environmental health disparities are rooted in historical and ongoing social, economic, and political inequities that shape where people live and work
• Addressing environmental justice requires targeted interventions to reduce exposure to environmental hazards and improve access to environmental benefits (green spaces, clean air and water) in impacted communities

Sustainable Economic Models

Integrating Environmental Sustainability into Economic Development

• Sustainable development seeks to meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs, balancing economic, social, and environmental considerations
• Green economy promotes economic growth and development while ensuring that natural assets continue to provide the resources and environmental services on which our well-being relies
• Circular economy aims to keep resources in use for as long as possible, extract the maximum value from them while in use, and recover and regenerate products and materials at the end of their service life

Transitioning to Sustainable Economic Practices

• Sustainable economic models require a shift away from the linear "take-make-dispose" model of production and consumption towards more regenerative and restorative practices
• This transition involves investing in renewable energy, resource-efficient technologies, and waste reduction and recycling initiatives to decouple economic growth from environmental degradation
• Governments can incentivize sustainable practices through policies (carbon pricing, green subsidies) and businesses can adopt sustainable supply chain management and product design
• Consumers also play a role in driving demand for sustainable products and services and adopting more sustainable lifestyles (reducing consumption, reusing and recycling)

Corporate and Community Responsibility

Corporate Social Responsibility in Environmental Management

• Corporate social responsibility (CSR) refers to the integration of social and environmental concerns into business operations and interactions with stakeholders
• In the context of environmental management, CSR involves companies taking responsibility for their environmental impacts and adopting sustainable practices (reducing emissions, conserving resources, managing waste responsibly)
• CSR can also involve partnering with communities to address local environmental challenges and investing in projects that benefit both the environment and society (ecosystem restoration, clean energy access)
• Effective CSR requires transparency, accountability, and engagement with stakeholders to ensure that corporate actions align with societal values and expectations around environmental sustainability

Community-Based Approaches to Environmental Stewardship

• Community-based environmental management empowers local communities to take an active role in managing and protecting their natural resources and environment
• This approach recognizes the traditional ecological knowledge and practices of indigenous and local communities and seeks to build on these for sustainable resource management (community forests, locally-managed marine areas)
• Community-based initiatives can also address local environmental challenges (waste management, water conservation) and build resilience to climate change impacts
• Successful community-based environmental management requires capacity building, participatory decision-making, and partnerships between communities, government, and other stakeholders to leverage resources and expertise