Environmental justice

Abstract

The concept of environmental justice emphasizes and demonstrates the connection between both the severe deterioration of the natural environment, and the unequal distribution of the negative consequences of environmental laws and policies designed to address it. In contemporary societies, the socially disadvantaged social groups (either by their socio-economic, cultural, or ethnic origin, or other characteristics) as well as the regions of the world that historically have had fewer development opportunities, are thus once again the 'losers'. All this makes clear the lack of democratic and inclusive principles in the decision-making processes both locally and internationally.