Environmental justice represents a logical human ideal which should be sought for and by all nations accross the world. Inequalities of all sorts between States and particularly North-South divisions make environmental justice for developing countries of the south, harder to attain.
Definitions of Environmental Justice
Environmenal justice is a complex concept which has given rise to several definitions. Despite the diverse ways to define it, environmental justice is based on a common principle: it explores the linkages between environmental problems and social injustice.
The United State Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) defines environmental justice as follow: "The fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, national origin, or income with respect to the development, implementation and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations and policies".
The Three Dimensions of Environmental Justice
Beyond this definition and in more concrete terms, there exists 3 dimensions of environmental justice, 1 related to procedural inequity, 1 related to geographical inequity and another 1 related to social inequity.
The procedural inequity concerns the ways in which officials, governements, decision makers operate and how the latter is accessible or rather not accessible to the public.
The geographical inequity refers to activities in places and the result that has on the economy and employment for example. While some places get huge benefits from industrial production (job, tax revenues etc), others are recipients of waste disposal.
Social inequity exists where environmental decisions are made by priviledged groups rather than the result of consultation with the general public. Often, the interests of those privileged groups are put at the forefront and are reflected in inequalities and divisions. This can result in geographical stigmatization in the form of ghetto or shanty towns.
Current Situaltion regarding Environmental Justice in Developing Countries
The current trend in developing countries as far as environmental justice is concerned is that they are bearing the consequences of much environmental ills disproportionately. Although they often generate less pollution than Western countries, they suffer greatly from pollution generated by Western industries.
Also, like their developed counterparts, they have a responsibility to reduce emissions and use eco-friendly means of production. These are more expensive and developing countries may not be able to do that efficiently and maximise their potential for development in the same time.
Poverty, Vulnerability and Waste Disposal
Several multi-nationals or Western managed corporations have been using the developing South as a waste dumping area. Sometimes with their agreement sometimes without. The United Nations Environment Emergency Programme (UNEP) has admitted that "European firms are known to be engaged in the business of dumping hazardous waste in Africa", as was reported by Bashe Said in "Seeking Environmental Justice: Toxic Waste Dumping in Africa", posted on the Daily Planet website on May 12th, 2007.
In 1997/98, the Somalian president, Hussein Mohamed Farrah Aidid, agreed to the dumping of 10 Million tonnes of toxic waste in exchange of £80 Million, Said also reports. However in many cases, illegal dumping of toxic and hazardous waste is carried out illegaly and in secret. Powerful corporations have often taken advantage of war torn areas or other chaotic states to dump their waste slyly and secretly.
Problems with Greener or more Environment Friendly Production Measures
The Kyoto protocol proposes greener or more environmentally friendly ways to produce and carry out industrial activities as potential response to climate change. While developing countries are greatly encouraged to take part in the latter, there is a clear misunderstanding of what they are capable of achieving in that matter. They essentially lack appropriate legal and institutional frameworks which go against their ability to use Clean Development Mechanism (CMD). Also they lack specialised expertise and often financial means to invest in the latter.
Political and Economical Interests
Numerous southern States' policies are about the appropriation of resources by priviledged groups. Indigenous populations, ethnoclasses, and other minorities, and their right to land, natural resources, clean air, good health and environmental protection are viewed by the dominant culture as expendable for the sake of national security, national unity and economic development (Adeola, 2000 in Faber 2005). Such practice fundamentally goes against the social aspect of environmental justice.
The obstacles to environmnental justice in the developing world are numerous and complex. Also, developing nations ' governments face the dilemma of 'bringing development' in costly eco-friendly ways, something somehow unrealistic. The very fact that developing nations must strive to develop in such a climate, something the developed Nations of the North didn't have to do, is in itself, the biggest environmental injustice.
Sources
Stephens, C., S. Bullock & A. Scott (2001) "Environmental Justice: Rights and Means to a healthy Environment for all", Economic & Social Research Council (ESRC)
US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), "Environmental Justice" Accessed February 17th, 2011
Robert Bullard (1993) "Waste and Racism: A Stacked Deck?" State Environmental Resource Centre
Bashe Said, "Seeking Environmental Justice: Toxic Waste Dumping in Africa", Daily Planet, May 12th, 2007, Accessed February 18th, 2011
Centre for Progressive Regulation (CPR) "International Environmental Justice and Climate Change" Accessed February 19th, 2011
United Nations "Kyoto Protocol to The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change" (1998) Accessed February 18th, 2011
Daniel Faber "Environmental Justice Movement: Obstacles and Opportunities in the Age of Globalization" in Coalition Accross Borders: Transnational Protest and the Neoliberal Order by Joe Brandy and Jacky Smith (eds) (USA: Rowan and Littlefield Publishers Inc, 2005)
Luds Kadimba - A mother of four who has developed over the years many interests in the areas of education, childhood studies, teaching and more recently ...
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