Environmental JusticeEnvironmental Justice

A safe and healthy place to live is a matter of justice

Tamara Steger, PhD

CEU Center for Environmental Policy and Law

Environmental justice is aboutEnvironmental justice is about

Fair treatment of people of all races, cultures and income with respect to the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, programs, and policies.

Coalition for Environmental Coalition for Environmental JusticeJustice

A civic action network of activists, lawyers, and scholars from environmental and human rights organizations working to promote environmental justice in Central and Eastern Europe, the Balkans, the Caucasus, and Central Asia.

What is environmental What is environmental justice?justice?

Environmental risks, hazards, investments, and benefits are equally distributed without direct or indirect discrimination at all jurisdictional levels and when access to environmental investments, benefits, and natural resources are equally distributed; and when access to information, participation in decisionmaking, and access to justice in environment-related matters are enjoyed by all.

Environmental Justice Environmental Justice FrameworkFramework

Distributive: Housing, Water, Sanitation Facilities, Waste Management, Health Services, Infrastructure Development

Procedural: Access to representation, justice, and information

Capacity and Agency: Security, education, and social capital

Entitlement: Access to resources; healthy environment

Cases of environmental Cases of environmental injusticeinjustice

High infant mortality and neurological problems among children due to lead poisoning in internally displaced ethnic communities resettled on a toxic, mostly inactive mine (Kosovo).

Poverty-stricken community settled on or near derelict factory or highly toxic waste dump (Rudnany, Slovakia).

Regular flooding in ethnic and poor neighborhoods (Sredorek, Macedonia; Rakhiv Roma Camp, Ukraine).

700 people to one water well and water is not potable (Svinia, Slovakia).

What can be done?What can be done?

Improve environment and health by reducing discrimination against the poor and ethnic minorities.

Apply environmental and human rights framework. (e.g., Social Charter)

Enhance collaboration between environmental and human rights organizations to promote a healthy environment for all.

Help to document and raise awareness about cases of environmental injustice (e.g., environmental justice indicative audit).

Implementing EJImplementing EJ

Policy and Law: input to rapporteur on UN housing rights initiative; Green paper on human rights to EU introducing EJ; legal actions (Romania); development of policy recommendations

Activism: environmental and human rights organisations working together to address mercury contamination (Czech Republic); Anti-incinerator campaign involving low-income community (Bulgaria); letter writing campaign to move IDP from lead poisoned camps (Kosovo); EJ newsletter

Research:Environmental Justice Indicative Audit; Report documenting environmental injustice in the region; economic analysis of role of individual collectors (predominantly Roma) in reduction of waste stream