Environmental justice issues span the globe, affecting vulnerable communities disproportionately. Climate change, resource extraction, and pollution hit developing countries and marginalized groups hardest, worsening existing inequalities and creating new challenges.

Trade agreements often prioritize profits over people and the planet. Meanwhile, international efforts like the UN's Sustainable Development Goals and grassroots activism aim to address these injustices, but face significant hurdles in creating meaningful change.

Global Environmental Justice Issues

Global environmental justice issues

• Climate change
  • Disproportionately impacts developing countries and marginalized communities with limited resources to adapt
  • Rising sea levels threaten low-lying coastal areas and island nations (Maldives, Tuvalu)
  • Increases frequency and intensity of extreme weather events (hurricanes, droughts)
  • Poses significant threats to food security and water availability in vulnerable regions (sub-Saharan Africa)
• Resource extraction
  • Multinational corporations exploit natural resources in developing countries with weak environmental regulations (Nigeria, Ecuador)
  • Displaces indigenous communities due to mining, logging, and oil drilling activities (Amazon rainforest)
  • Causes severe environmental degradation and pollution, affecting local ecosystems and public health
  • Often lacks adequate compensation and benefits for affected communities, perpetuating poverty and inequality

Distribution of environmental impacts

• Environmental racism
  • Polluting industries and waste disposal sites are disproportionately concentrated in low-income and minority communities (Flint, Michigan)
  • Disadvantaged areas often lack access to clean air, water, and green spaces, leading to health disparities
• Ecological debt
  • Developed nations have historically exploited and continue to exploit natural resources in developing countries (colonial era, present-day extractive industries)
  • Global North consumes a disproportionate share of resources and has a larger carbon footprint compared to the Global South
• Environmental refugees
  • Environmental degradation, natural disasters, and climate change impacts force communities to relocate (coastal Bangladesh, Pacific islands)
  • Displaced populations often have limited resources and support, exacerbating existing vulnerabilities

Trade agreements and environmental justice

• Free trade agreements
  • Prioritize economic growth over environmental protection and social welfare, leading to environmental degradation
  • Encourage relaxation of environmental regulations to attract foreign investment (maquiladoras in Mexico)
  • Enable exploitation of natural resources and cheap labor in developing countries by multinational corporations
• Mega-development projects
  • Large-scale infrastructure projects (dams, highways) displace communities and disrupt local ecosystems (Three Gorges Dam in China)
  • Often lack adequate consultation and compensation for affected populations, violating their rights
  • Benefits are unequally distributed, with profits flowing to foreign investors and local elites while communities bear the costs

International environmental justice efforts

• United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
  • 17 goals aimed at addressing global challenges, including environmental justice issues (clean water, affordable clean energy)
  • Progress is hindered by insufficient funding, lack of political will, and weak accountability mechanisms
• Paris Agreement on climate change
  • International treaty aims to limit global temperature rise and support climate adaptation efforts in vulnerable countries
  • Criticized for insufficient emission reduction targets and lack of binding commitments from major emitters
• Environmental justice movements and activism
  • Grassroots campaigns and protests draw attention to environmental injustices and demand action (Standing Rock protests against Dakota Access Pipeline)
  • Activists face challenges such as limited resources, political opposition, and threats to their safety (murder of Honduran activist Berta Cáceres)
• Role of international organizations and NGOs
  • Provide advocacy, research, and support for affected communities (Greenpeace, Environmental Defense Fund)
  • Limited by dependence on donor funding and need for greater coordination and collaboration among organizations