Environmental justice

"Old" EJ news


NUG #1 (2/2005)

Until January 2005, several theses on environmental justice (EJ) have been written at social sciene institutes of German universities; at least one doctorīs thesis is planned.

EJ has been a sub-topic at the "Soziologentag" (German sociologistsī year-conference) 2004 in München. But EJ has there been connected to the much wider topic of ecological justice - i.e.: distributional and procedural justice of all living beings on earth -, and has there partly been interpreted in ways very different from the international EJ-discussion.

The ESN (Environment & Society Network; www.esa-esn.org) of ESA (European Sociological Association) will have a session on EJ and environmental policy at the ESA-conference (9-13.9.2005) at the Nicholas Copernicus-university in Torun/Poland. Abstracts till 15.2.2005 per email to the network-coordinator: Kris van Koppen, Environmental Policy Group, Wageningen University, Hollandseweg 1, 67o6 KN Wageningen, Niederlande, email: kris.vankoppen@wur.nl.

The "Aktionsprogramm Umwelt & Gesundheit NRW" (APUG-NRW) (action program environment & health-Northrhine-Westfalia) discussed at its second forum (November 2004) in Bonn, whether EJ should be included as a topic. A positive decision has not yet been taken, but is probable.

New publications on EJ:


NUG #2 (8/2005)

The "Aktionsprogramm Umwelt & Gesundheit NRW" (APUG-NRW) (action program environment & health-Northrhine-Westfalia) has included EJ as a topic. As a start, data of a hot spot-study (air-pollution in certain areas of Duisburg and Dortmund, compared to Borken) will be re-analyzed under an EJ-perspective. The analysis will be done by the "Institut für Medizinische Information/Biometrie/Epidemiologie (IMIBE)des Uni-Klinikums Essen" (institute of medical information/biometry/epidemiology of the university-hospital in Essen).

The city of Kassel has commissioned the "Zentrum für Umweltsystemforschung der Universität Kassel" (center for environmental systems research at the university of Kassel) with a study on the socio-spatial distribution of environmental quality.

The "Bundeszentrale für politische Bildung" (federal center for political education) organizes in November 2005 in Berlin a conference on "sustainability, quality of life and EJ", directed by Prof. Kuckartz, University of Marburg.

During a two-month stay in Edinburgh, I did for Friends of the Earth Scotland (FoES) an evaluation of the EJ-policy in Scotland. In an "environment speech" of the First Minister in 2002, EJ has been declared an important target of the Scottish government; this has been confirmed in the coalition-contract of Labour and Liberal Democrats in 2003. Several studies on procedural and, more so, distributional justice of environmental pollution in Scotland have been finished. The uppermost political level in Scotland is promoting EJ as a political topic - at least to some degree. In addition, there is a small group of committed EJ-experts in various institutions, who are continuously promoting the topic, and have prevented its dissolution in "sustainable development/growth". EJ-relevant activities still refer more to procedural aspects, partly initiated from outside (Aarhus declaration, EU directives). Distributional aspects are mostly neglected. Environmental pollution is heavily concentrated in the "central belt" between Edinburgh and Glasgow.

New publications on EJ:


NUG #3 (1/2006)

Hurricane Katrina, which hit the US gulf-coast in September 2005, is a recent example of lack of EJ - victims in New Orleans were mostly colored US citizens.

The "Umweltforschungszentrum der Universität Kassel" has started a session of lectures on EJ, in winter-term 2005/6, organized by Dr. Köckler.

The Scottish government has published a report on its EJ-policy (see below Scottish Executive 2005). My report on the Scottish EJ-policy has been published in the internet (see below Maschewsky 2005).

New publications on EJ:


NUG # 4 (8/2006)

At the "Soziologentag 2006" (German sociology conference 2006, 33rd Congress of the German Sociological Association, DGS) in Kassel, there will be a workshop on environmental justice (EJ) at October 10th, 2 pm, with seven lectures. More information at www.uni-kassel.de/fb5/soziologie/dgs2006/html/programm.htm.

At the "BKK-Satellitentagung Mehr Gesundheit für Alle" (statutory health insurance-conference "more health for all"), preceding the "12. Kongreß Armut & Gesundheit" (12th congress poverty & health) in Berlin (1.-2.12.06), there will be a workshop on health assessment and EJ at November 30th, 2-4 pm, with four lectures (chair: Prof. Geene, University of Applied Sciences Magdeburg/Stendal). More information at www.gesundheitberlin.de.

The journal "Umwelt-Medizin-Gesellschaft" (environment-medicine-society) published a volume (3/2006) with three articles on EJ. More information at www.umwelt-medizin-gesellschaft.de. In the editorial Tamara Steger, PhD (Central European University, Center for Environmental Policy and Law, Budapest) reports that in Eastern Europe a transnational "Coalition for Environmental Justice" (CEJ) has been founded, which tries to connect civil rights and environmental issues, and refers to studies of the UN Developmental Program (UNDP).

Rachelīs Democracy & Health News (# 861, 29.6.2006) reports - in a contribution by JH Guth - that the US federal government, using the priority clause of article IV of the US constitution, is increasingly annulling progressive state laws on social, health, consumer and environmental issues. This policy clearly aims at mere deregulation, as no federal laws take the place of the annulled state laws. More information at www.rachel.org.

New publications on EJ:

  • Bolte G, Soziale Lage und umweltbezogene Gesundheit: Umweltgerechtigkeit aus umweltepidemiologischer Sicht (Social situation and environmental health: Environmental justice from a social epidemiology perspective). Umwelt-Medizin-Gesellschaft, 3, 2006, 181-186
  • Bullard RD, The quest for environmental justice: Human rights and the politics of pollution. Sierra Club, San Francisco, 2005
  • Eriksen P, Umwelt und Gesundheit an Belastungsschwerpunkten: Hot Spot-Studie im Ruhrgebiet (Environment and health at focal points: Hot spot-study in the Ruhr-area). Umwelt-Medizin-Gesellschaft, 3, 2006, 187-188
  • Maschewsky W, "Healthy public policy" - am Beispiel der Politik zu Umweltgerechtigkeit in Schottland ("Healthy public policy" - the example of environmental justice policy in Scotland). Discussion paper, Wissenschaftszentrum Berlin (Science Center Berlin), 2006 http://skylla.wz-berlin.de/pdf/2006/i06-304.pdf
  • Maschewsky W, Umweltgerechtigkeit - Themen und Handlungsansätze am Beispiel USA und Schottland (Environmental justice - topics and political approaches in the US and Scotland). Umwelt-Medizin-Gesellschaft, 3, 2006, 189-199

NUG # 5 (1/2007)

At the "Soziologentag 2006" (German sociology conference 2006, 33rd Congress of the German Sociological Association, DGS) in Kassel, there was a well attended workshop on environmental justice (EJ). Afterwards, around 10 participants came together and agreed to share informations and have a meeting in spring 2007. Coordinators are Mrs. Köckler (Kassel) and Mr. Elvers (formerly Halle; now Berlin). This could lead to a competence-network, which might stimulate, document and coordinate EJ-activities and -research.

The Federal Environmental Agency (Umweltbundesamt, UBA) has been financing a study on "Weiterentwicklung der konzeptionellen Überlegungen zur Ökologischen Gerechtigkeit als Teil der Sozialberichterstattung in Deutschland auf der Grundlage von Experteninterviews und eines Fachgesprächs" (Further conceptual developments on ecological justice as part of social monitoring in Germany, based on expert interviews and an expert discussion) (UFOPLAN 2005, FKZ 205 17 103). The study was done by the Wuppertal Institute and the Science Center Northrhine-Westfalia, Institute for Work and Technology (Wissenschaftszentrum Nordrhein-Westfalen, Institut Arbeit und Technik). Results have been published on the net under www.umweltbundesamt.de, topic environmental awareness and sustainable consumption, sub-topic ecological justice.

At the 30./31. of November 2006, there has been an expert meeting in Berlin to present and discuss the three sub-studies (relation of ecological justice to environmental policy, social policy, social monitoring/surveillance). Take-up of, relation to, and relevance for EJ have remained unclear.

At February 1st 2007, the Catholic Social Institute (Katholisch-Soziale Institut, KSI; www.ksi.de) in Bad Honnef organized a "First future forum environmental justice" ("1. Zukunftsforum Umweltgerechtigkeit"; moderation: Dr. van Saan-Klein, Beatrice.vSK@t-online.de). The workshop was supported by the Ministry of Environment, Nature Protection, Agriculture and Consumer Safety of Northrhine-Westfalia (NRW-Ministerium für Umwelt und Naturschutz, Landwirtschaft und Verbraucherschutz, MUNLV) as part of the Action Program Environment & Health NRW (Aktionsprogramm Umwelt & Gesundheit NRW, APUG-NRW).

New publications on EJ:

  • Kloepfer Michael, Umweltgerechtigkeit. Environmental Justice in der deutschen Rechtsordnung (Environmental Justice. Environmental justice in the German legal system). Duncker & Humblot, Berlin, 2006

NUG # 6 (7/2007)

At September 18-21 2007, there will be a large congress in Augsburg of several professional societies - DGSMP, DGMS, GMDS, DGEpi - with a broad and differentiated program on social medicine, public health, and epidemiology (with 963 lectures). On Thursday, the 20th of September, from 11 am to 12.30, there will be a workshop on environmental justice (EJ), with seven lectures (chair: Dr. Bolte, Dr. Mielck). For more information see www.dgsmp.de.

At November 22-24 2007, the society for hygiene, environmental and preventive medicine (GHUP) has its first congress in Bielefeld. Chairs: Prof. Dr. Claudia Hornberg (Universität Bielefeld), PD Dr. Rainer Fehr (LÖGD-NRW). Topics are diverse and include EJ. Deadline for abstracts: 15.7.07. For more information see www.conventus.de/ghup2007.

From November 30 till December 1, there will be the 13th congress poverty and health. In the last years, there were always lectures and/or workshops on EJ. There is not yet a final program on the net. For more information see www.gesundheitberlin.de or kongress@gesundheitberlin.de.

The weekly periodical "Das Parlament" has in its supplement "Aus Politik und Zeitgeschichte", Nr. 24/2007, two contributions on environmental resp. ecological justice. Contact: www.bpb.bund.de.



NUG # 7 (2/2008)

A newsgroup on EJ has been installed at the end of 2007 (http://de.groups.yahoo.com/group/umweltgerechtigkeit). Anybody interested in participating should contact the moderator (umweltgerechtigkeit-owner@yahoogroups.de). News to the group via umweltgerechtigkeit@yahoogroups.de. The newsgroup is meant to allow fast and flexible sharing of informations concerning EJ.

Parallel to the newsgroup EJ, the same team (editorial staff: Elvers, Köckler, Schlüns; further cooperants: Bunge, Katzschner, Maschewsky) edited in January 2008 a first newsletter [NG:UG]. It can be found at the above mentioned newsgroup, and is meant to serve the same intentions.

On 23.11.07, at the 1. GHUP-Konferenz (GHUP: Gesellschaft für Hygiene, Umweltmedizin und Prävention; Association for Hygiene, Environmental Medicine and Prevention) in Bielefeld, there has been an EJ-workshop (40 participants, 6 contributions). More information at http://conventus.de/ghup2007.

At the 13. Kongreß Armut & Gesundheit (Congress Poverty & Health) in Berlin, on 30.11.07 there has been a workshop "Schichtenspezifische Umweltbelastungen bei Kindern und Jugendlichen" (social status-specific environmental stress of children and adolescents). Mostly results of the Kinder-Umwelt-Survey (children & environment survey) KUS have been presented. More information at http://www.gesundheitberlin.de.

On 13.12.07, at the federal bureau of the NABU (Naturschutzbund Deutschland; Nature Conservancy Association Germany) in Berlin, there has been an expert discussion on ecojustice, prepared and coordinated by Mrs Littmeier from DNR (Deutscher Naturschutzring; German Network for Nature Conservancy). The meeting drew a considerable audience (scientists, representatives from political parties, administrative bodies, ministries, environmental groups, employees of several members of the parliament).More information at http://tinyurl.com/3yj6wm.

In Scotland, in 2007 an environmental justice fund (EJF) has been installed, with 2 Mio Ģ, and a duration of only one year. Money will be managed by "Forward Scotland" - an institution, which also manages other environmental projects for the Scottish government - and is meant to help communities start EJ-projects.

At the Senatsverwaltung für Gesundheit, Umwelt und Verbraucherschutz (Senateīs Department of Health, Environment and Consumersī Protection) in Berlin, EJ has become a topic, following similar developments in München, Hamburg (partly), and the Ruhr region. Two projects are in planning: (a) unequal distribution of environmental load (mainly traffic, noise, microdust) in an inner-city neighborhood; (b) environmental load in a disadvantaged neighborhhod (problem area), e.g. Kottbusser Tor. Contacts: Dr. med. Luck-Bertschat and Dr.-Ing. Klimeczek.

New publications on EJ:

  • Brettschneider A, Schlüns J, Auf dem sozialen Auge blind? Soziale Gerechtigkeit in der Umweltpolitik. Politische Ökologie, 105, 2007, 69-71
  • Elvers H-D, Umweltgerechtigkeit als Forschungsparadigma der Soziologie. Soziologie, 36, 2007, 21-44
  • Elvers H-D, Umweltgerechtigkeit - ein Handlungsansatz für Public Health? Umwelt - Medizin - Gesellschaft, 2008, demnächst
  • Maschewsky W, Umweltgerechtigkeit als Thema für Public-Health-Ethik. Bundesgesundheitsblatt, 2, 2008, 200-210
  • Schlüns J, Umweltbezogene Gerechtigkeit in Deutschland. Aus Politik und Zeitgeschichte, 24, 2007, 25-31


NUG # 8 (8/2008)

1. The GP research group organizes a workshop on "environment and justice" in Berlin, at the 13./14.10.08, for the Federal Ministry of Environment (BMU, Bundesministerium für Umwelt) and the Federal Agency for Environment (UBA, Umweltbundesamt). It is supposed to develop concepts for ecological fairness and against social exclusion. Limited number of participants. More information at www.gp-f.com.

2. Prof. Hornberg (University of Bielefeld) organizes a conference on "environmental justice - the social distribution of health-related environmental impacts" in Berlin, at the 27./28.10.08, for BMU/UBA, with international participants.

3. The German Environmental Aid (DUH, Deutsche Umwelthilfe) has started an EJ-project. It focuses on community approaches to improve the local situation. Right now, it is looking for examples of good practice. More information at www.duh.de/umweltgerechtigkeit.html.

4. Health Berlin (Gesundheit Berlin e.V.) organizes the 14th congress "poverty & health" in Berlin, at the 5./6.12.08, under the slogan "justice promotes health for all". This has been for years the largest public health-congress in Germany, and had often EJ-workshops. More information at www.gesundheitberlin.de.

5. In cooperation with the Department of Environment, Health and Consumer Safety of the Berlin Senate (SenGUV, Senatsverwaltung für Umwelt, Gesundheit und Verbraucherschutz), at the Humboldt-University a geographical bachelor thesis on EJ with GIS-methods is on its way. First results will be presented at the above mentioned BMU/UBA-congress. More theses and cooperations with other universities are planned. More information at heinz-josef.klimeczek@senguv.berlin.de and gudrun.luck-bertschat@senguv.berlin.de.

6. In the USA, in 5/08, the publication company Mary Ann Liebert Inc. has published a new quarterly and peer-reviewed journal "Environmental Justice", with a wide perspective (policy, history, empirical work, book-reviews, etc.). In the free first edition, e.g., there is an article on EJ in Eastern Europe by Steger/Filcak; also an article by Taylor et al with some reflections on "neighbourhood walkability and urban design". Access at www.liebertpub.com/env.

7. The "American Journal of Public Health" (AJPH) plans (for fall 08?) a special edition on EJ, in the internet.

8. The free and via internet accessible UBA-journal "UMID" (Umweltmedizinischer Informationsdienst, environmental health information service) has, in edition 2/2008, focused on "environmental justice - environment, health and social situation. The edition has eleven articles with a wide perspective. Most articles focus on social, not socio-spatial, differences in environmental exposure, i.e., with environment-related inequities in health. One reason for this slanted interpretation of EJ might be - beside data-availability via environmental surveys - the stilllo w degree of residential segregation in Germany. Access at www.umweltbundesamt.de/umid.

9. The Newsgroup EJ [NG:UG] has published its second edition (Rundbrief 02/08). Access at http://de.groups.yahoo.com/group/umweltgerechtigkeit or via the moderator umweltgerechtigkeit-owner@yahoogroups.de.

New publications on EJ (selection):

  • Bunge C, Umweltgerechtigkeit - Umwelt, Gesundheit und soziale Lage. Empirische Befunde und zukünftige Herausforderungen. UMID, 2, 2008, 5-9
  • Elkins S, Soziale Gerechtigkeit als Problem umweltpolitischer Steuerung. In: Corsten M et al hg, Die Gerechtigkeit der Gesellschaft. Verlag für Sozialwissenschaften, Wiesbaden, 2005, 229-260
  • Elvers H-D, Umweltgerechtigkeit - ein Handlungsansatz für Public Health? Umwelt - Medizin - Gesellschaft, 1, 2008, 54-59
  • Hornberg C, Pauli A, Gender, Umwelt und Gesundheit - Neue Sichtweisen auf das Umweltgerechtigkeitskonzept. UMID, 2, 2008, 22-25
  • Klimeczek HJ, Luck-Bertschat G, "(Sozial-)räumliche Verteilung von Umweltbelastungen in Berlin - Umweltgerechtigkeit als neues Themen- und Aufgabenfeld an der Schnittstelle von Umwelt, Gesundheit, Soziales und Stadtentwicklung. UMID, 2, 2008, 26-29
  • Köckler H, Katzschner A, Soziale Unterschiede bezüglich der Bewältigung von Umweltbelastungen am beispiel von Kassel - Ein integriert sozial-naturwissenschaftlicher Erklärungsansatz für umweltbezogene gerechtigkeit. UMID, 2, 2008,30-34
  • Rauchfuss K et al, Umweltgerechtigkeit: Die soziale Verteilung von Umweltbelastungen und gesundheitlichen Folgen an industriellen Belastungsschwerpunkten in Nordrhein-Westfalen. UMID, 2, 2008, 35-38
  • Schlüns J, Die ökologische Zweiklassengesellschaft. Blätter für deutsche und internationale Politik, 3, 2008, 95-101


NUG # 9 (1/2009)

1. The newsgroup environmental justice [NG:UG] published its new newsletter 03/08, with lots of actual information. Access via http://de.groups.yahoo.com/group/umweltgerechtigkeit.

2. Environmental justice (EJ) is still on an upward wind politically. At 27./28.10.08 in Berlin, the Federal Ministry of Environment (BMU, Bundesministerium für Umwelt) and the Federal Agency for Environment (UBA, Umweltbundesamt) held an EJ conference, organized by Prof. Hornberg (University of Bielefeld). There were many participants (mainly from academia and ministries resp. agencies); two referents came from Britain. At the end, a new workgroup on EJ indicators was announced. At 11.11.08 in Berlin, BMU and the German Trade-Unions Federation (DGB, Deutscher Gewerkschaftsbund) held a conference on "social dimensions of environment and health - perspectives for a healthy work and general environment", with a clear EJ perspective. At the 14th Congress "poverty & health" at 5./6.12.08 in Berlin, there was an EJ workshop.

3. At 31.3.-1.4.09 the German Environmental Aid (DUH, Deutsche Umwelthilfe) organizes a congress on EJ in Frankfurt/Main. More informations at www.duh.de/umweltgerechtigkeit.html.

4. WHO-Europe has identified "inequity in environment and health" as an "emerging issue", which it intends to bring forward at the 5th European Conference of Ministers of Environment and Health 2009 in Parma (Italy). Informations at www.euro.who.int/eehc/conferences/20080117_1.

5. The number of diploma, bachelor and master theses on EJ is increasing - at the moment three theses in planning or geography by Brückner, Mertens und Riedel (cf. [NG:UG] 03/08).

6. Jon Fairburn and Graham Smith of IESR (Institute for Environment, Sustainability and Regeneration) at Staffordshire University did an EJ study on South Yorkshire for the British Environment Agency. The study is, among other things, interesting from a methodological viewpoint. More informations at htpps://publications.environment-agency.gov.uk/epages/eapublications. A short article on the study has already appeared (see below).

7. Three more editions of the journal "Environmental Justice" have appeared in the meantime, with a wide range of subjects. Some examples (see below): EJ and hurricane Katrina, EJ-regulation and color of skin (2/2008); EJ and gender, EJ in South Africa, procedural justice and EJ (3/2008); EJ and work, EJ in Brazil, EJ in UK, EJ and planning, EJ and children (4/2008). Access via www.liebertpub.com/env.

New publications on EJ:

  • Bell K, Achieving environmental justice in the United Kingdom: a case study of Lockleaze, Bristol. Environmental Justice, 4, 2008, 203-210
  • Boone CG, Environmental justice as process and new avenues for research. Environmental Justice, 3, 2008, 149-154
  • Carruthers DV, The globalization of environmental justice: lessons from the U.S.-Mexico border. Society & Natural Resources, 7, 2008, 556-568
  • Carruthers J, Dainfern and Diepsloot: Environmental justice and environmental history in Johannesburg, South Africa. Environmental Justice, 3, 2008, 121-126
  • Fairburn J, Smith G, Environmental justice in South Yorkshire: working towards a better quaity of life. Environment Agency Northeast Region, Leeds, 2008
  • Fairburn J, Butler B, Smith G, Environmental justice in South Yorkshire: locating social deprivation and poor environments using multiple indicators. Local Environment, 14 (2), 2009, 139-154
  • Martinez S, Color-blind, color-mute,and color-deaf: race and expertise in environmental justice rule making. Environmental Justice, 2, 2008, 93-100
  • Sanchez TW, Brenman M, Transportation equity and environmental justice: lessons from hurricane Katrina. Environmental Justice, 2, 2008, 73-80
  • Schroeder R et al, Third world environmental justice. Society & Natural Resources, 7, 2008, 547-555
  • Sokas RK, Environmental justice and work. Environmental Justice, 4, 2008, 171-176 Souza A, The gathering momentum for environmental justice in Brazil. Environmental Justice, 4, 2008, 183-188
  • Strife S, Growing up in an environmental justice context: childrenīs environmental concerns. Environmental Justice, 4, 2008, 217-224
  • Unger NC, The role of gender in environmental justice. Environmental Justice, 3, 2008, 115-120
  • Wilson S, Hutson M, Mujahid M, How planning and zoning contribute to inequitable development, neighborhood health, and environmental injustice. Environmental Justice, 4, 2008, 211-216


NUG # 9 (1/2009)

1. The newsgroup environmental justice [NG:UG] published its new newsletter 03/08, with lots of actual information. Access via http://de.groups.yahoo.com/group/umweltgerechtigkeit.

2. Environmental justice (EJ) is still on an upward wind politically. At 27./28.10.08 in Berlin, the Federal Ministry of Environment (BMU, Bundesministerium für Umwelt) and the Federal Agency for Environment (UBA, Umweltbundesamt) held an EJ conference, organized by Prof. Hornberg (University of Bielefeld). There were many participants (mainly from academia and ministries resp. agencies); two referents came from Britain. At the end, a new workgroup on EJ indicators was announced. At 11.11.08 in Berlin, BMU and the German Trade-Unions Federation (DGB, Deutscher Gewerkschaftsbund) held a conference on "social dimensions of environment and health - perspectives for a healthy work and general environment", with a clear EJ perspective. At the 14th Congress "poverty & health" at 5./6.12.08 in Berlin, there was an EJ workshop.

3. At 31.3.-1.4.09 the German Environmental Aid (DUH, Deutsche Umwelthilfe) organizes a congress on EJ in Frankfurt/Main. More informations at www.duh.de/umweltgerechtigkeit.html.

4. WHO-Europe has identified "inequity in environment and health" as an "emerging issue", which it intends to bring forward at the 5th European Conference of Ministers of Environment and Health 2009 in Parma (Italy). Informations at www.euro.who.int/eehc/conferences/20080117_1.

5. The number of diploma, bachelor and master theses on EJ is increasing - at the moment three theses in planning or geography by Brückner, Mertens und Riedel (cf. [NG:UG] 03/08).

6. Jon Fairburn and Graham Smith of IESR (Institute for Environment, Sustainability and Regeneration) at Staffordshire University did an EJ study on South Yorkshire for the British Environment Agency. The study is, among other things, interesting from a methodological viewpoint. More informations at htpps://publications.environment-agency.gov.uk/epages/eapublications. A short article on the study has already appeared (see below).

7. Three more editions of the journal "Environmental Justice" have appeared in the meantime, with a wide range of subjects. Some examples (see below): EJ and hurricane Katrina, EJ-regulation and color of skin (2/2008); EJ and gender, EJ in South Africa, procedural justice and EJ (3/2008); EJ and work, EJ in Brazil, EJ in UK, EJ and planning, EJ and children (4/2008). Access via www.liebertpub.com/env.

New publications on EJ:

  • Bell K, Achieving environmental justice in the United Kingdom: a case study of Lockleaze, Bristol. Env Justice, 4, 2008, 203-210
  • Boone CG, Environmental justice as process and new avenues for research. Env Justice, 3, 2008, 149-154
  • Carruthers DV, The globalization of environmental justice: lessons from the U.S.-Mexico border. Society & Natural Resources, 7, 2008, 556-568
  • Carruthers J, Dainfern and Diepsloot: Environmental justice and environmental history in Johannesburg, South Africa. Env Justice, 3, 2008, 121-126
  • Fairburn J, Smith G, Environmental justice in South Yorkshire: working towards a better quaity of life. Environment Agency Northeast Region, Leeds, 2008
  • Fairburn J, Butler B, Smith G, Environmental justice in South Yorkshire: locating social deprivation and poor environments using multiple indicators. Local Environment, 14 (2), 2009, 139-154
  • Martinez S, Color-blind, color-mute,and color-deaf: race and expertise in environmental justice rule making. Env Justice, 2, 2008, 93-100
  • Sanchez TW, Brenman M, Transportation equity and environmental justice: lessons from hurricane Katrina. Env Justice, 2, 2008, 73-80
  • Schroeder R et al, Third world environmental justice. Society & Natural Resources, 7, 2008, 547-555
  • Sokas RK, Environmental justice and work. Environmental Justice, 4, 2008, 171-176 Souza A, The gathering momentum for environmental justice in Brazil. Env Justice, 4, 2008, 183-188
  • Strife S, Growing up in an environmental justice context: childrenīs environmental concerns. Env Justice, 4, 2008, 217-224
  • Unger NC, The role of gender in environmental justice. Env Justice, 3, 2008, 115-120
  • Wilson S, Hutson M, Mujahid M, How planning and zoning contribute to inequitable development, neighborhood health, and environmental injustice. Env Justice, 4, 2008, 211-216


NUG # 10 (8/2009)

1. In 2/2009, the EU commission made made a two-day conference on "social fairness in sustainable development", which also dealt with environmental justice (EJ).

2. The EJ workshop of the German Environmental AID (DUH),at 31.3./1.4.2009 in Frankfurt/M., had many participants - scientists, representatives from communities, social and environmental organizations. Three topics were dealt with in 13 presentations: noise and traffic, climate protection, urban green. A documentation is in progress. Informations at www.duh.de.

3. At the website of APUG (action program environment & health; www.apug.de), EJ has been included as a menu category. This points to the growing political importance of EJ - at least, at a symbolic level. However, the long title ("EJ - environment, health, and social status") indicates some narrowing of EJ to environmental public health, which may not further cooperation with geographers, planners, urban sociologists, etc.

4. The Environmental Administration (Umweltbundesamt, UBA) has published a short overview over 18 studies on environmental public health in Germany (authors: Bunge and Katzschner; 69 p). Download at www.umweltbundesamt.de.

5. The EJ project at the Senate for Health, Environment and Consumer Protection (SenGUV) in Berlin, has received more reports from cooperating university institutes (TU Berlin, HU Berlin, UFZ Leipzig). They contain detailed analyses of four health-relevant environmental loads, with identical spatial reference. More external expertise (SenStadt, BUND, Difu) has been included. This will soon allow the spatially detailled analysis of multiple loads. The three mentioned university institutes will forward research proposals to the UBA.

6. Jon Fairburn of IESR (Institute for Environment, Sustainability and Regeneration) at Staffordshire University has hinted to a presently stronly debated EJ scandal in UK. In the town of Corby (Northamptonshire), from 1985 until 1999, a steel works has been pulled down, with severe disregard for environmental standards. Dozens of children, who have been born in this period in Corby, are mutilated at arms and/or legs. 18 parents have sued the Corby Borough Council, in a legal battle of more than 10 years. 16 of them were granted in 7/2009 a provisional compensation of 1.6 million BP (to pay their lawyers). The judges answered yes to the question of accountability and liability of the community, and opened a path for private suits (with high compensation claims). These will have to give evidence of a causal connection between proven environmental contamination by the community, and individual health problems of the children. This path is hard, often futile (as described in Grishamīs novel "the appeal"), but sometimes successful (as in the case of Erin Brockovich; put into a film, with an Oscar nomination).

7. Two more editions of the EJ journal have appeared, with a wide focus. E.g., EJ in Brazil, South Africa (1/2009), and Singapore (2/2009); EJ and nuclear industry ("/2009). Access at www.liebertpub.com/env.

New publications on EJ:

  • Alldred M, Shrader-Frechette K, Environmental injustice in siting nuclear plants. Env Justice, 2, 2009, 85-96
  • Amerasinghe M et al, Enabling environmental justice: assessment of participatory tools. Dept of Urban Studies and Planning, MIT, Cambridge (MA), 2009
  • Bunge C, Katzschner A, Umwelt, Gesundheit und soziale Lage. Umweltbundesamt, Dessau, 2009
  • Grisham J, The appeal. Bantam Dell, New York, 2008
  • Merwe CD van der, Environmental justice - a new theoretical construct for urban renewal? The case of Heritage at Constitution Hill, Johannesburg. Env Justice, 1, 2009 25-34
  • Pedersen OW, Transatlantic movements of justice: a story of inspiration and diversity. Env Justice, 1, 2009, 35-42
  • Perry KY, "If we didnīt have water": black womenīs struggle for urban land rights in Brazil. Env Justice, 1, 2009, 9-14
  • Weida L, Climate change policies in Singapore: whose "environments" are we talking about? Env Justice, 2, 2009, 79-83


NUG # 11 (1/2010)

1. The UN climate summit in Copenhagen, in December 2009, has failed miserably. Main reason: the developed countries offered less than 1 % of the funds, which they put up to save their main banks, for climate protection. This way, international environmental policy remains mere "symbolic policy". These are negative prospects for environmental justice (EJ).

2. The severe earth quake in Haiti at January 12, 2010, has again shown - like the big flood, following hurricane Katrina in New Orleans, September 2005 - that even the recovery of environmental victims is often done in a socially discriminating way. After the earth quake, heavy removal equipment was not first used in the densely populated center of Port-au-Prince, with its collapsed schools, hospitals, etc., but in some thinly populated urban fringe areas, where embassies and tourist hotels were located.

3. The German Environmental Aid (DUH) has published a documentation of its EJ-workshop on 31.3./1.4.2009 in Frankfurt/M. (with the topics: traffic and noise, climate protection, urban development and urban green). At 9.2.2009, this is followed by an expert workshop, in Frankfurt/M., on "nature - city - humans". Topics will be: brownfields and urban green, room for manoeuvre at community level, EJ in the competition "federal capital biodiversity 2010". Informations at www.duh.de.

4. The documentation of the EJ-workshop of BMU and UBA, at 27./28.10.2008, in Berlin, has been published (see below Hornberg/Pauli). Access at www.uni-bielefeld.de/gesundheitw/umweltgerechtigkeit/index.html.

5. The project "EJ in Berlin" (head: Dr. Klimeczek), at the Senate for Health, Environment, and Consumer Protection (SenGUV) in Berlin - cooperation with SenStadt, health department Berlin-Mitte, technical university Berlin, Humboldt university Berlin, UFZ Leipzig, BUND - has presented data on four dimensions of environmental load (noise, air quality, urban green bio-climate; together with social status), at the low level of traffic cells (Verkehrszellen). After these distributions of singular loads, the distribution of multiple loads was also presented. Further analyses are on the way.

6. The new editions of the jounal "Environmental Justice" are dealing with, e.g.: EJ in Taiwan and Canada, EJ and biography (3/2009); EJ and climate justice, EJ and CO2-storage (4/2009). Access at www.liebertpub.com/env.

New publications on EJ:

  • Agyeman J, Ogneva-Himmelberger Y hg, Environmental justice and sustainability in the former Soviet Union. MIT-Press, Cambridge (MA), 2009
  • Anand R, International environmental justice: a North-South dimension. Ashgate, Hampshire (UK), 2004
  • Deutsche Umwelthilfe hg, Handlungsmöglichkeiten für mehr soziale Gerechtigkeit durch kommunalen Umweltschutz. DUH, Radolfzell, 2009
  • Hornberg C, Pauli A hg, Umweltgerechtigkeit - die soziale Verteilung von gesundheitsrelevanten Umweltbelastungen. Universität Bielefeld, 2009
  • Huang CT, Hwang RC, "Environmental justices": What we have learned from the Taiwanese environmental justice controversy. Environmental Justice, 3, 2009, 101-108
  • Keeling A, Sandlos J, Environmental justice goes underground? Historical notes from Canadaīs northern mining frontier. Environmental Justice, 3, 2009, 117-125
  • Kindler A et al, Untersuchung zur räumlichen Korrelation von Feinstaub(PM10)-Belastungen und Sozialstatus/Dynamik-Index in den Berliner Verkehrszellen. UFZ, Leipzig, 2009
  • Lowry D, Age, the life course, and environmental justice. Environmental Justice, 3, 2009, 109-116
  • Schultz J, Umwelt und Gerechtigkeit in Deutschland. Metropolis, Marburg, 2009
  • Shepard PM, Corbin-Mark C, Climate justice. Environmental Justice, 4, 2009, 163-166
  • Tyree S, Greenleaf M, The environmental injustice of "clean coal": Expanding the national conversation on carbon capture and storage technology to include an analysis of potential environmental justice impacts. Environmental Justice, 4, 2009, 167-171


NUG # 12 (7/2010)

1. Under the Obama presidency, environmental justice (EJ) seems to gain new momentum in the US: white-house staff met with representatives of the EJ movement (View/Boles 2010); the Department of Energy (DoE) organized a three-day EJ conference; the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published a new "rulemaking guidance on environmental justice"; etc.

2. At the same time, there are new EJ conflicts. For example, BP has private contractors clean-up huge amounts of sludge, sand, and debrs, contaminated for months by oil leaking from a drill hole, after the explosion of the oil-rig "Deep Water Horizon". These firms selected nine waste-deposits in Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, and Mississippi; five of the chosen sites are in predominantly minority-neighborhoods (1-mile radius). The basically racist pattern of waste disposal, which Bullard described in "Dumping in Dixie", seems still to be valid.

3. From Scotland, there are alo some EJ news: some publications - e.g., Richardson et al, Slater/Pedersen (see below) -, and relevant conferences - e.g., "Environmental justice, human rights, and environmental law" by the Environmental Law Centre Scotland, Glasgow, 11/2009; "Conference on Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA)" by the University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, 5/2010.

4. A short study of a French research institute analyzes EJ in Europe, under the aspects (a) vulnerability in regard to environmental risks, and (b) just resp. fair environmental taxes (see below Laurent).

5. The EJ project in Berlin will be continued and extended by further analyses. The design is laid out in a power-point presentation (by Klimeczek, see below), accessible on the internet.

6. The new issues of the journal "Environmental Justice" treat, among other things, EJ and climate change, EJ and town-planning, a meeting of white house-staff with EJ representatives (# 1/2010); the 40th anniversary of "Earth Day", which had a huge resonance in 1970 in the US, and all of a sudden widened the environmental movement (# 2/2010). Access via www.liebertpub.com/env.

New publications on EJ:

  • Faber D, Capitalizing on environmental injustice: The polluter-industrial complex in the age of globalization. Rowman & Littlefield, Lanham (MD), 2008
  • Klimeczek H-J, Umweltgerechtigkeit im Land Berlin. Entwicklung und Umsetzung einer praxistauglichen Konzeption zur Untersuchung der (stadt-) räumlichen Verteilung von gesundheitsrelevanten Umweltbelastungen. SenGUV, Berlin, 2010, www.ak-uis.de/ws2010/pdf/d_06_Klimeczek_SenatBerlin_Umweltgerechtigkeit.pdf
  • Laurent E, Environmental justice and environmental inequalities: A European perspective. OFCE, Paris, 2010
  • Richardson EA et al, The mechanism behind environmental inequality in Scotland: which came first, the deprivation or the landfill? Env Planning, 1, 2010, 223-240
  • Sicotte D, Donīt waste us: Environmental justice through community participation in urban planning. Environmental Justice, 1, 2010, 7-11
  • Slater A-M, OW Pedersen, Environmental justice; lessons on definition and delivery from Scotland. J Env Planning Mgm, 6, 2009, 797-812
  • View JL, Boles LM, Environmental justice leaders and white house staff meet to discuss climate justice, green jobs, and equity. Environmental Justice, 1, 2010, 33-35
  • Wilson SM et al, Climate change, environmental justice, and vulnerability: An exploratory spatial analysis. Environmental Justice, 1, 2010, 13-19
  • Xie H, Kang J, On the relationships between environmental noise and socio-economic factors in Greater London. Acta Acustica, 96, 2010, 472-481


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