Equity, Equality, and Autonomy: Paradigms in Environmental Justice
Equity, Equality, and Autonomy
The ideas and definitions around Environmental Justice (EJ) differ in aspects of equity, equality, and autonomy. It could be that two paradigms of EJ are found in the Environmental Justice Movement (EJM): (1) equity and equality; and (2) autonomy.
Equity and equality have been the platform of most institutions’ and many organizations’ decree of EJ. Some activists believe that EJ will be achieved through equitable distribution of environmental benefits, protection, and hazards. Equal treatment of communities seems like an attainable goal because it is a legitimized by greater society.
However, other activists believe that the equity and equality fail to truly accept the Principles of Environmental Justice, which challenges the use of substances hazardous to ecological health (Pena, 2005). Furthermore, some activists believe that aspiring for equality ultimately legitimates politics from which the injustices were fabricated (Faber, 1998).
Equity - refers to freedom from favoritism when referring to a system of law; the fulfillment of standards regarding environmental health
Example: The EPA established standards of acceptable air quality limits. The air quality for all communities should not exceed the standards
Equality - refers to the same treatment and influence of all communities regarding environmental health
Example: All communities should have the same amount of polluting industries; thus, their air quality should be equal.
Autonomy - refers to the right of communities to be independent and self-govern decisions that would affect environmental health
Example: Communities should have a right to govern what type of air quality standards or how many polluting industries they want for their
community.