Environmental Impact on Marginalized — Definition

Definition

Environmental impacts on marginalised groups arise when hazards and environmental change interact with unequal exposure, resources, rights and influence. People who depend on common resources, live in unsafe locations or have limited savings may suffer greater losses and recover more slowly.

The issue is not that a hazard recognises social identity; social conditions shape who encounters it and who can respond. Environmental justice therefore examines the distribution of benefits and burdens, participation in decisions and recognition of affected people's rights and livelihoods.

A technically successful project must also be assessed for displacement, access and the costs imposed on people with fewer alternatives.