Environmental Justice

By – Kalpana Sahoo,

Edited by - Nazmin Saikia

“There is no climate justice without racial justice, queer justice, social justice, and intergenerational justice.”

What Is Environmental Justice?

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, environmental justice means the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people—regardless of race, color, national origin, or income—concerning the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies.

Environmental Justice in India

To understand environmental justice in India, we must first acknowledge the country’s deep-rooted social disparities and current environmental challenges.

India’s rapid industrialization and technological growth have lifted many out of poverty, but they have also led to the unchecked exploitation of natural resources, pollution, and environmental degradation. The focus on economic growth often comes at the cost of ecological balance.

While the concept of environmental justice originated in the U.S. civil rights movement, its core issues have long existed in India. Struggles by tribal and rural communities to protect their land and water have often remained localized due to limited media attention.

Environmental injustices in India manifest in various forms:

• Destruction of natural ecosystems like forests and water bodies

• Harm to the livelihoods of local and indigenous communities

• Public unrest triggered by ecological degradation

According to recent reports, over 85% of environmental legal cases in India fall under high or medium intensity categories—triggering mass mobilization, protests, or legal intervention. These cases largely revolve around:

• Fossil fuels and climate change

• Water management

• Mining and industrial pollution

• Land acquisition and infrastructure development

Fortunately, India’s proactive judiciary and institutions like the National Green Tribunal (NGT) have played a vital role in ensuring justice in environmental matters. NGT’s expertise has helped resolve complex environmental disputes and has empowered grassroots environmental movements.

Climate Change and Marginalized Communities

Climate change does not affect all people equally. Vulnerable and marginalized communities—such as the rural poor, tribal groups, women, and the elderly—bear the brunt of its consequences. These communities often:

• Live in high-risk areas like coastlines, floodplains, or drought-prone regions

• Depend on climate-sensitive sectors like agriculture, fisheries, and forestry

• Lack access to basic services, healthcare, or emergency infrastructure

Examples of Inequities:

• In the U.S., low-income and racial minority communities live in areas with higher pollution levels, worsening respiratory and heart health.

• In Australia, Indigenous populations in remote areas suffer more from cyclones and bushfires but have limited emergency support.

• In Bangladesh, flood-prone areas are home to poor communities who repeatedly lose homes and livelihoods to climate disasters.

Climate change also creates climate refugees—people forced to migrate due to rising sea levels, droughts, or disasters. Lacking resources, these communities struggle to resettle, deepening cycles of poverty and instability.

In poorer nations:

• Health systems are strained due to heat-related illnesses or disease outbreaks (e.g., malaria, dengue).

• Droughts and erratic rainfall reduce agricultural productivity, leading to hunger and malnutrition.

• Resource scarcity can spark conflict over water, land, and food, especially in fragile economies.

Women, Indigenous people, and other socially marginalized groups are particularly vulnerable due to systemic inequities and limited political representation.

Climate Inequality: Data & Insights (2022)

The Climate Inequality Database (2022) reveals stark disparities in emissions:

• The bottom 50% of Europe emits ~5 tons CO₂/person/year

• In East Asia, it’s ~3 tons; in North America, ~10 tons

• The top 10% emits 6–15x more: 29 tons (Europe), 39 (East Asia), 73 (North America)

Surprisingly, the poorest half of populations in rich countries are close to achieving 2030 emission targets, while the top half continue to exceed their carbon budget. Current carbon policies, like carbon taxes, often affect lower-income groups more harshly than the wealthy.

Climate Inequality in India (2022)

While India is the third-largest emitter globally (after China and the U.S.), its per capita emissions remain low due to its large, low-income population.

Key findings:

• The top 1% in India emit disproportionately more carbon than the bottom 50%.

• Vulnerable regions such as Odisha, Bihar, and Uttar Pradesh face extreme climate impacts—floods, droughts, and food insecurity—while contributing the least to emissions.

• Industrialized states like Gujarat and Maharashtra have higher emission footprints.

• Coastal regions like Kerala and West Bengal face rising sea levels and frequent cyclones.

• India's energy transition efforts—solar, wind, green mobility—are progressing but face challenges due to financial and technological constraints.

Global Solutions for Climate Inequality

1. Climate Finance & Just Transition

   • Wealthy countries must deliver grants (not loans) to fund climate adaptation and renewable energy in developing nations.

   • E.g., UN's $100B/year pledge to the Global South.

2. Loss and Damage Fund

   • Established at COP27 & COP28, this fund compensates poor countries for irreversible climate impacts like rising sea levels.

3. Fair Emission Reductions

   • Rich countries should cut emissions more aggressively, honoring their historical responsibility.

   • Carbon budgets must consider per capita contributions.

4. Support for Renewable Energy in Global South

   • End fossil fuel subsidies and finance clean energy development (e.g., India’s International Solar Alliance).

5. Protection for Indigenous & Vulnerable Communities

   • Indigenous people protect 80% of global biodiversity. Climate justice must uphold their rights and knowledge systems.

Addressing Climate Inequality in India

1. State-Specific Climate Action Plans

   • Example: Odisha’s climate-resilient agriculture & early flood warning systems

2. Targeted Green Investment

   • Promote solar energy in rural areas

   • Invest in public transport and green jobs for informal workers

3. Social Protection & Climate Insurance

   • Strengthen MGNREGA, expand crop insurance, and provide cash support in climate-affected areas

   • Build insurance mechanisms for small farmers and businesses

4. Inclusive Urban Planning

   • Upgrade slums and provide flood and heatwave-resistant infrastructure to low-income groups

5. Empowering Women & Youth

   • Support women-led green enterprises

   • Promote youth-driven climate movements like Fridays for Future India

Key Reports to Know

Source	Key Finding
Oxfam – Climate Equality Report (2023)	The richest 1% emit as much carbon as the poorest 66%.
Climate Inequality Report (2023)	Carbon inequality exists even within countries like India.
India’s Third Biennial Report to UNFCCC	India’s per capita emissions remain among the lowest globally.

Three Big Actions for Climate Justice

Action	Responsibility
Polluters must pay	Wealthy countries & billionaires must cut emissions and finance the Global South
Protect the most vulnerable	Governments must prioritize adaptation and social protection
People-powered solutions	Empower women, youth, and Indigenous communities as climate leaders

Final Thoughts

The climate crisis is inseparable from the crisis of inequality. Environmental justice demands that we confront not just carbon emissions but also the systems of power that determine who benefits from development and who suffers its consequences. As India and the world face a pivotal climate decade, justice must be the foundation of every policy, protest, and plan.