4 Global Analysis of Environmental Justice

Different populations have always been disproportionately affected by issues relating to the environment. These issues have only intensified and increased in severity with the surge in extreme weather events and rising global temperatures. From pollution to resource exploitation to climate change, we will be exploring how social determinants of health relate to environmental impacts through income inequality, race, and other structural inequalities. We will also explore global initiatives, organizations, and milestones specific to environmental justice on the global scale. Finally, current applications of environmental justice programs will be evaluated for their effectiveness and future implementation.

On a global scale, countries with a lower GDP, labor primarily oriented on exports, and lower education rates, are at high risk for the negative physical and mental effects of environmental hazards. The United Nations (UN) identifies “Least Developed Countries” as those with a “low level of socioeconomic development, scarcity of domestic financial resources, and a historically weak development capacity”. Their list consists of 44 countries including Bangladesh, Haiti, and Yemen to name a few. According to a study done by the UN on disaster risk reduction in least developed countries (LDCs), LDCs have only made up around 1% of global emission but have suffered a 5x increase in climate-related hazards since the 1970s (UNDRR 2022). For example, natural disasters and climate events have drastically different effects on not only health outcomes but also economic effects on a country.