Résumé
In recent years, the scope and understanding of environmental protection have expanded significantly beyond the traditional goal of preserving natural resources for future generations. The concept of environmental justice has emerged as a response to the phenomenon of environmental racism and may be understood as an international movement that advocates for environmental, economic, and social justice by highlighting the interconnections between economic inequality, environmental degradation, and public health.
In this sense, environmental justice encompasses legal norms, policy interventions, regulatory frameworks, and value-based approaches aimed at promoting sustainable economic development while addressing environmental racism and structural inequities.
Environmental racism—defined as the disproportionate exposure of racialized communities to environmental hazards—remains a pressing issue today and is increasingly associated with the broader phenomenon of neo-colonial capitalism. The underrepresentation of racial and ethnic minorities in decision-making processes, their limited access to essential public services, and the systemic marginalization of these communities contribute to this enduring form of environmental injustice.
This paper examines the overarching concepts of discrimination, environmental racism, environmental justice, and neo-colonial capitalism. It also provides an overview of the core principles of environmental justice and outlines selected measures taken at the European level to combat environmental racism—such as the initiatives of the Environmental Network against Racism and the European Green Deal Strategy—particularly in the context of the ongoing pandemic and climate crises.
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