Global Environmental GovernanceJames Gustave Speth and Peter M. Haas

Speth and Haas: Ten of the major global environmental challenges are:

1. Acid rain and regional air pollution

2. Ozone depletion

3. Climate disruption [global climate change]

4. Deforestation

5. Land degradation and desertification

6. Freshwater degradation and shortages

7. Marine fisheries decline

8. Toxic pollutants

9. Loss of biological diversity

10. Excess nitrogen

Environmental JusticeEnvironmental Justicehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ghRsAe0AExM&feature=relatedhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ghRsAe0AExM&feature=related

Traditional Environmentalism:Traditional Environmentalism:Group of Ten in the 1980sGroup of Ten in the 1980s

1.1. National Wildlife Federation http://www.nwf.org/National Wildlife Federation http://www.nwf.org/2.2. Issak Walton League http://www.iwla.org/Issak Walton League http://www.iwla.org/3.3. National Audubon Society http://www.audubon.org/National Audubon Society http://www.audubon.org/4.4. Sierra Club http://www.sierraclub.org/Sierra Club http://www.sierraclub.org/5.5. Wilderness Society http://www.wilderness.org/Wilderness Society http://www.wilderness.org/6.6. National Resources Defense Council http://www.nrdc.org/National Resources Defense Council http://www.nrdc.org/7.7. Environmental Defense Fund Environmental Defense Fund

http://www.environmentaldefense.org/home.cfmhttp://www.environmentaldefense.org/home.cfm8.8. Environmental Policy Center Environmental Policy Center 9.9. Friends of the Earth http://www.foe.org/Friends of the Earth http://www.foe.org/10.10. National Parks and Conservation Association National Parks and Conservation Association

http://www.npca.org/http://www.npca.org/

Some Criticisms of Traditional Some Criticisms of Traditional Environmentalism in the US in the 1980sEnvironmentalism in the US in the 1980s

1.1. It had lost its bite and become a culture of reform.It had lost its bite and become a culture of reform.

2.2. It was dominated by professionalism.It was dominated by professionalism.

3.3. A number of groups were held hostage by corporate philanthropy A number of groups were held hostage by corporate philanthropy and big money.and big money.

4.4. A number of groups had lost touch with their grassroots constituency.A number of groups had lost touch with their grassroots constituency.

5.5. Many groups did not adequately address urban and rural Many groups did not adequately address urban and rural environmental concerns.environmental concerns.

6.6. The movement was still largely a white men’s club.The movement was still largely a white men’s club.

Enter: The Environmental Justice MovementEnter: The Environmental Justice Movement

By the 1980s, a new type of grassroots environmentalism had clearly By the 1980s, a new type of grassroots environmentalism had clearly arrived in the US.arrived in the US.

It was a blending of social justice and environmental concerns.It was a blending of social justice and environmental concerns.

It was led primarily by people of color, women, blue collar labor, and It was led primarily by people of color, women, blue collar labor, and marginalized peoples.marginalized peoples.

It focused more on urban and rural environments: “where we live, where we It focused more on urban and rural environments: “where we live, where we work, where we play, and where we pray.”work, where we play, and where we pray.”

It was largely a response to inequities in the distribution of environmental It was largely a response to inequities in the distribution of environmental burdens, the failure of environmental laws and governmental agencies to protect burdens, the failure of environmental laws and governmental agencies to protect people, and the failure of mainstream environmental groups to address social people, and the failure of mainstream environmental groups to address social concerns.concerns.

Distributive justice was not necessarily its overriding concern.Distributive justice was not necessarily its overriding concern.

Different Tributaries That Nourished the Different Tributaries That Nourished the Stream of the EJ Movement in the USStream of the EJ Movement in the US

1.1. Civil Rights MovementCivil Rights Movement

2.2. Anti-Toxics MovementAnti-Toxics Movement

3.3. Labor MovementLabor Movement

4.4. Indigenous Peoples StrugglesIndigenous Peoples Struggles

5.5. AcademiaAcademia

6.6. Traditional EnvironmentalismTraditional Environmentalismhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EL1FTRNPU08http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EL1FTRNPU08

Some Central Concerns Some Central Concerns of the EJ Movement in the USof the EJ Movement in the US

Siting of facilities that produce toxic and hazardous materials and Siting of facilities that produce toxic and hazardous materials and wastewaste

Environmental racismEnvironmental racism

Institutional and environmental discriminationInstitutional and environmental discrimination

Occupational health and safety in industrial and agricultural sectorsOccupational health and safety in industrial and agricultural sectors

Land rightsLand rights

Urban environmental politics and the right to a safe, livable Urban environmental politics and the right to a safe, livable environmentenvironment

Struggles of indigenous peoplesStruggles of indigenous peoples

Justice Dimensions of Environmental JusticeJustice Dimensions of Environmental Justice

1. Distributive Justice: How should environmental burdens and 1. Distributive Justice: How should environmental burdens and benefits be distributed (or redistributed)?benefits be distributed (or redistributed)?

And there’s also:And there’s also:

2. Procedural Justice: What are fair and equitable procedures for 2. Procedural Justice: What are fair and equitable procedures for making distribution decisions?making distribution decisions?

But:But:

What’s missing is an examination of social, cultural, symbolic, and What’s missing is an examination of social, cultural, symbolic, and institutional conditions underlying unfair distributions of burdens institutional conditions underlying unfair distributions of burdens and benefits.and benefits.

Distributive Justice and Barriers to Distributive Justice and Barriers to Democratic ParticipationDemocratic Participation

Within many contemporary theories of justice, the link between Within many contemporary theories of justice, the link between distributive justice schemes and participating in these schemes is distributive justice schemes and participating in these schemes is not clear.not clear.

While these theories of justice might look good as While these theories of justice might look good as theories theories of of justice, they might not actually help advance justice in the world justice, they might not actually help advance justice in the world because of barriers to democratic participation.because of barriers to democratic participation.

These barriers are not the kinds of things that ought to get These barriers are not the kinds of things that ought to get distributed. They simply should not exist.distributed. They simply should not exist.

Another Justice Dimension Another Justice Dimension of Environmental Justiceof Environmental Justice

Participatory JusticeParticipatory Justice

Who gets to make the decisions about how to distribute Who gets to make the decisions about how to distribute environmental burdens and benefits?environmental burdens and benefits?

One important insight from the EJ Movement is that One important insight from the EJ Movement is that participatory justice might be more important than participatory justice might be more important than distributive and procedural justice—focusing on distributive and procedural justice—focusing on distributions and procedures obscures social structures distributions and procedures obscures social structures and the institutional context in which environmental and the institutional context in which environmental decisions are made.decisions are made.

More Justice Dimensions of EJ:More Justice Dimensions of EJ:Recognition and IdentityRecognition and Identity

If you aren’t recognized and respected, you don’t If you aren’t recognized and respected, you don’t participate in decision-making.participate in decision-making.

Recognition and identity are not goods to be distributed Recognition and identity are not goods to be distributed like burdens and benefits.like burdens and benefits.

This creates a need to look at the relationships between This creates a need to look at the relationships between social, cultural, and environmental harms and benefits, social, cultural, and environmental harms and benefits, as well as the lack of democratic participation.as well as the lack of democratic participation.

Example of Recognition/Identity Injustice:Example of Recognition/Identity Injustice:RacismRacism

Racism = a doctrine of superiority. Classically, racism is understood Racism = a doctrine of superiority. Classically, racism is understood to be a set of beliefs in which one racial or ethnic group believes to be a set of beliefs in which one racial or ethnic group believes itself to be superior to another racial or ethnic group. These beliefs itself to be superior to another racial or ethnic group. These beliefs can be expressed as thoughts and/or through behaviors. can be expressed as thoughts and/or through behaviors.

Intentional Racism: manifestation in action of a racist disposition Intentional Racism: manifestation in action of a racist disposition with an intent to discriminate.with an intent to discriminate.

Unintentional Racism: acting like a racist would without holding a Unintentional Racism: acting like a racist would without holding a racist doctrine, such that actions result in racist consequences racist doctrine, such that actions result in racist consequences without a direct intent to discriminate.without a direct intent to discriminate.

Intentional and unintentional racism can be the acts of single Intentional and unintentional racism can be the acts of single persons and the acts of institutions.persons and the acts of institutions.

Institutional RacismInstitutional Racism

Structural Racism: Pertains to the practices of institutions within a Structural Racism: Pertains to the practices of institutions within a social superstructure, which includes the legal system, laws, social superstructure, which includes the legal system, laws, governments, schools, religions, and other structural institutions.governments, schools, religions, and other structural institutions.

Habitual Racism: Pertains to practices that are guided by policies, Habitual Racism: Pertains to practices that are guided by policies, laws, or customs that have been in place for so long that people laws, or customs that have been in place for so long that people have become habituated to them.have become habituated to them.

Legacy Racism: Effects of past institutions that leave a racial or Legacy Racism: Effects of past institutions that leave a racial or ethnic group in a disadvantaged social position such that a present ethnic group in a disadvantaged social position such that a present judgment might reify and sustain the disadvantage of members of judgment might reify and sustain the disadvantage of members of the racial or ethnic group without immediate racist or discriminatory the racial or ethnic group without immediate racist or discriminatory intent.intent.

Justice Dimensions Justice Dimensions of Environmental Justiceof Environmental Justice

Recognition or identity justiceRecognition or identity justice Participatory justiceParticipatory justice Distributive justiceDistributive justice Procedural justiceProcedural justice Restitutive or compensatory justiceRestitutive or compensatory justice Transformative JusticeTransformative Justice

Slogan of the EJ Movement:Slogan of the EJ Movement:““We speak for ourselves.”We speak for ourselves.”

Principles of Environmental JusticePrinciples of Environmental Justice

http://www.ejnet.org/ej/principles.htmlhttp://www.ejnet.org/ej/principles.html

EJ Scholar/Activist Robert Bullard: EJ Scholar/Activist Robert Bullard: Dominant Environmental Protection ParadigmDominant Environmental Protection Paradigm

Exists to manage, regulate, and distribute risks.Exists to manage, regulate, and distribute risks.

Reinforces, rather than challenges, existing Reinforces, rather than challenges, existing unjust stratifications of people and places.unjust stratifications of people and places.

““The Environmental Justice The Environmental Justice Movement provides a bottom-Movement provides a bottom-

up up challenge to this paradigm.”challenge to this paradigm.”

Bullard’s New Environmental Justice Bullard’s New Environmental Justice FrameworkFramework

1.1. Ground the framework on the principle that all individuals have Ground the framework on the principle that all individuals have the right to be protected from environmental degradation.the right to be protected from environmental degradation.

2.2. Also ground the framework on the precautionary principle to Also ground the framework on the precautionary principle to protect workers, communities, and ecosystems.protect workers, communities, and ecosystems.

3.3. Shift the burden of proof to polluters and dischargers who do Shift the burden of proof to polluters and dischargers who do harm, who discriminate, and/or who do not give equal protection harm, who discriminate, and/or who do not give equal protection to all racial and ethnic groups.to all racial and ethnic groups.

4.4. Adopt a public health model of prevention as the preferred Adopt a public health model of prevention as the preferred strategy to eliminate a threat before it occurs.strategy to eliminate a threat before it occurs.

Some Issues Mentioned on EJM Web SitesSome Issues Mentioned on EJM Web Sites

Air pollutionAir pollution GenocideGenocide Police brutality/abusePolice brutality/abuseBiopiracyBiopiracy GlobalizationGlobalization PovertyPovertyBrownfieldsBrownfields Health careHealth care Procedural justiceProcedural justiceConsumptionConsumption HomelessnessHomelessness Racial discriminationRacial discriminationCorporate accountabilityCorporate accountability HousingHousing RecyclingRecyclingCorporate liabilityCorporate liability Human geneticsHuman genetics ReparationsReparationsCorporate welfareCorporate welfare Human rightsHuman rights SovereigntySovereigntyCrimeCrime Immigrant rightsImmigrant rights Sustainable agricultureSustainable agricultureCultural disempowermentCultural disempowerment Jobs/unemploymentJobs/unemployment Sustainable developmentSustainable developmentDecision makingDecision making Land use/zoningLand use/zoning Tenants’ rightsTenants’ rightsDeforestationDeforestation Lead poisoningLead poisoning ToxicsToxicsDisability rights Disability rights Medical researchMedical research TransportationTransportationEducationEducation MilitarismMilitarism WarWarEnergyEnergy Nuclear testingNuclear testing Waste disposalWaste disposalEnvironmental racismEnvironmental racism Oil and mineral extractionOil and mineral extraction Water pollutionWater pollutionFacility sitingFacility siting Parks and recreationParks and recreation WildlifeWildlifeFoodFood PesticidesPesticides Worker safety and healthWorker safety and healthGenderGender