The fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people in the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies.
— Makamure Clemence, “Environmental Justice for Sustainable Development: A Biblical Perspective”
[Ecojustice] addresses connections between the well-being of earth and the human community with special focus upon those who are disproportionately affected by environmental degradation because of economics, race, gender and age… [it describes] the relationship between the systemic problems facing individuals, communities, and the natural world.
– Sisters of Providence, 2017
Communities of color and poverty are often the first to feel the impacts of environmental degradation; rising waters impact fishermen, spreading deserts impact subsistence farmers, species extinction impact those who rely on those species for their way of life, and changing environments require people (often from low and middle-income populations) to relocate in order to maintain a healthy standard of living. People already burdened by poverty and oppression often suffer the harshest consequences, while having the least ability to cope. Environmental degradation also exacerbates existing social, political, and economic challenges, leading to conflict that itself exacerbates existing poverty.
Ecojustice, also known as environmental justice, means everyone should have a healthy and secure environment in which to live, learn, work, and play. It also means there are enough resources for future generations as well as ourselves. All should enjoy the same degree of protection from environmental and health hazards, regardless of race, gender, ability, socioeconomic background, or any other limiting factor; no group of people should bear a disproportionate share of the negative environmental consequences resulting from industrial, land use planning, or zoning operations. All must have equal access to the decision-making process to create that environment (Cole and Foster, 2001).
Environmental Justice for Sustainable Development: A Biblical Perspective. Makamure Clemence. 2015.
From the Ground Up: Environmental Racism and the Rise of the Environmental Justice Movement. Luke W. Cole and Sheila R. Foster. 2001.
What is Eco-Justice? Sister Joan Brown, OSF, Sisters of Providence. 2017. https://spsmw.org/2017/04/26/what-is-eco-justice/.