Environmental Justice Research: Contemporary Issues and Emerging Topics

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Public Health
• Sociology

Background:

• Environmental justice (EJ) research initially focused on pollution disparities but has broadened its scope.
• Intensifying social and environmental issues necessitate strengthening the EJ research framework.
• This Special Issue includes 19 articles expanding EJ research into new areas.

Discussion:

• Articles explore emerging topics: energy, food, drinking water, flooding, sustainability, and gender dynamics.
• Research spans diverse geographical locations including Canada, the UK, and Eastern Europe.
• The collection examines connections between environmental injustice and health outcomes.

Key Insights:

• Documenting links between environmental injustice and health impacts (unsafe infrastructure, substance use, child health).
• Promoting environmental justice through interventions, sustainable community change, and government metrics.
• Clarifying stakeholder perceptions to move beyond documenting injustices.

Outlook:

• Highlighting potentially compounding injustices across various environmental and social domains.
• Showcasing diverse approaches to achieve environmental justice.
• Emphasizing the need for interdisciplinary and geographically diverse EJ research.