Transcript Environmental Justice

Environmental 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 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
Justice

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 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
Framework

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
injustice

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?

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 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 lowincome 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