The mentor's topic this month- 'Environmental Justice' was new to me. I have read alot about Climate Justice and how humans are hurting the environment. however this topic introduced me to yet another serious concern that needs to be resolved while using environmental resources.

Environmental Justice

Broadly defined, Environmental justice means that both, environmental benefits and burdens have to be shared fairly among all members of the society.

 

Environmental injustice occurs when those with political or economic power exploit the planet's resources to the detriment of weaker sections of the society, poorer communities or the average citizen.

The video links below helped me better understand the concept of Environment Justice and I am sharing them with the forum.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0L2xCwD5RNI

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dREtXUij6_c

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3WMgNlU_vxQ

 

Environmental inequality is still largely unexplored in Austria, but is rather relevant in the context of the European Union.

 

Environmental Status in EU

Europe has historically been and till date remains responsible for a disproportionately high share of global environmental destruction as well as resource consumption.

 

Nearly 40% of the food consumed in Europe is grown on other continents. This leads to using up land and water resources, contributing to soil degradation through the use of pesticides, and causing increased emissions through long transportation routes.

 

Tackling Europe?s excessive ecological footprint is therefore paramount.

 

Environmental Injustice in EU

Various reports provide sound support for the assertion that poor and ethnically marginalized people in Europe, especially women and children, in some of the not so affluent countries of Europe, are more exposed to environmental hazards than majority populations.

 

They are also more likely to lack access to water, sewerage and other environmental benefits. This situation is further exacerbated by inadequate access to health care.

 

Case studies in Eastern and Central Europe included death of infants from lead poisoning, high rates of birth abnormalities, and an ominously quick succession of child deaths from cancer attributed to the environmental conditions in which they live.

 

Solutions to Environmental Injustice in EU

While Europe has created environmental problems, it has also been in the forefront of finding solutions.

 

By joining forces with academics and activists in the field, the country aims to look beyond the current policy agenda and determine the contours of a paradigm shift.

 

In general, Europe promotes the idea of achieving a fair share of resource- and energy use both to tackle the climate and environmental problems facing it and address social inequalities.

 

EU pushes decision makers in institutions such as the UN to close the gap between over- and under-consumption. For this to be achieved, Europe aims to decrease the material footprint by 80% by 2050.

 

In my opinion all major business deals between countries in EU should reflect the climate and environmental challenges the world is facing, help to create local jobs, and offer an intelligent and rational answer to citizens.

 

What the EU is doing to ensure Environmental Justice

Europe is investing in the poorest and minority groups and providing huge opportunities for improving child health. This includes clean-ups of contaminated areas; greater support for local groups; and stronger engagement with the women in marginalized communities because women take most of the responsibility for family health.

 

Policies and laws that simultaneously improve the environment and combat discrimination are significantly improving children?s health.

 

EEB and J&E are two organizations instrumental in spearheading Environmental Justice movement in Europe.

 

European Environmental Bureau (EEB)

The EEB is a major player in campaigning for environmental justice in Europe. It is Europe?s largest network of environmental citizens' organisations. They bring together around 140 civil society organisations from more than 30 European countries and representing some 30 million individual members and supporters.

 

The EEB tackles Europe?s most pressing environmental problems by agenda setting, monitoring, advising on and influencing the way the EU deals with these issues. These include issues such as climate change, biodiversity, circular economy, air, water, soil, chemical pollution, as well as policies on industry, energy, agriculture, product design and waste prevention among others.

 

EEB stands for environmental justice, in addition to sustainable development and participatory democracy.

 

Justice and Environment (J&E)

'J&E' is a European Network of Environmental Law Organisations, working in Europe and consisting of organisations from different countries dealing with environmental law solely or as one of their activities.

 

J&E aims for better legislation and implementation of environmental law on the national and European Union (EU) stage to protect the environment, people and nature, by enhancing the enforcement of EU legislation through the use of European law and exchange of information on the national, cross-border and wider European level.

 

As lawyers they mostly use legal methods and tools to convince decision makers into adopting positive change. They analyse the implementation of EU law, illustrate on-the-ground practice via case studies and, design policy recommendations. When required, they also defend the rights of communities and nature in court and launch infringement proceedings against faulty governments. In partnership with other NGOs, they campaign for a change in law and enforcement.

 

Sources and References

https://www.env-health.org/resources/publications/article/making-the-case-for-environmental

http://eeb.org/global-and-regional-policies/environmental-justice/

http://www.justiceandenvironment.org/about-us/

http://www.oekobuero.at/justice-and-environment-english