Environmental injustice in the West Bank: a mixed-methods assessment using SDG-based indicators
Nidal Mohammad Nassar1,2, Hamzeh Al Zabadi3, Zohra Lili Chabaane4,5
1University of Carthage, National Agronomic Institute of Tunisia, Laboratory GREEN-TEAM LR17AGR01, 43 Avenue Charles Nicolle, Tunis Mahrajène, 1082, Tunisia. nida_nass@yahoo.com.
BMC Public Health
|July 7, 2026
Summary
Environmental justice concerns are widespread in the West Bank, Palestine, impacting development. Perceptions highlight governance and resource issues across environmental, social, and economic dimensions.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Sociology
- Development Studies
Background:
- Environmental justice theory emphasizes distributive, procedural, and recognition dimensions.
- The West Bank context presents unique challenges due to complex governance and resource constraints.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate perceptions of environmental justice and inequalities in the West Bank.
- To analyze these perceptions within the framework of sustainable development and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Main Methods:
- A mixed-methods approach combining quantitative (n=629) and qualitative data.
- Survey assessed perceptions across 16 SDG-aligned indicators.
Main Results:
- High levels of perceived environmental justice concerns were reported across most indicators.
- No significant differences in perceptions were found across gender or residence for most indicators, except for Global Partnership for Sustainable Development.
- Qualitative data revealed governance, institutional, infrastructure, and resource accessibility as key factors.
Conclusions:
- Environmental justice concerns in the West Bank are multifaceted, spanning environmental, social, economic, and governance aspects.
- The study integrates SDG indicators into a mixed-methods framework, offering insights from a constrained political context.
- Findings contribute to environmental justice literature by highlighting context-specific challenges and perceptions.
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