1.3.9—Environmental justice

Environmental injustice exists when pollution burdens, resource benefits, access or decision power are distributed unfairly across people or places.

Compare who is exposed, who benefits, who decides and who can avoid harm. Pollution becomes a justice issue through that unequal distribution.

A landfill beside a low-income neighbourhood concentrates pollution while other districts receive the waste service’s benefits.

Show disproportionate exposure, unequal access or lack of decision power for a group.

Pollution alone does not show inequality; map burdens, benefits and power.

Compare scales as well as burdens. A local example is a landfill concentrated beside a low-income neighbourhood, where nearby residents carry pollution and reduced amenity while a wider area benefits from disposal. A global example is hazardous or plastic waste exported from higher-income countries to communities with less regulatory power and waste infrastructure. In both cases, test exposure, benefit, consent, participation and capacity to avoid or remedy harm.