EUKN - European Urban Knowledge Network - Environmental Justice in London. Linking the Equalities and Environment Policy Agendas

Environmental Justice in London. Linking the Equalities and Environment Policy Agendas

Introduction

A report to challenge London policy makers and influencers to respond to the Mayor of London's vision of creating an exemplary sustainable world city by more closely integrating the equalities and environmental policy agendas.

Description

The report is based on work to bring together London's equalities and environmental policy agendas and consider how the concept of "environmental justice" fits within London policy and practice.

The aim of the work was to explore how:

public policy in London can meet the needs of those currently environmentally disadvantaged in London and also those who may become so if London policy makers pay insufficient attention to environmental inequalities in achieving other aims;
environmental inequality issues in London are related to those across the UK and the planet.

Background information

There has been a steady growth in interest and concern around the issue of environmental justice and equality over recent years. This has been accelerated by the work of government departments and agencies as well as NGOs such as Friends of the Earth and the emerging UK Environmental Justice Network.

Reports from the Environment Agency confirm that deprived communities suffer the worst environments in terms of a number of key issues. Environmental justice links too many concerns including housing, urban regeneration and local service provision which all affect local quality of life.

Methodology

The report highlights environmental justice as an agenda for everybody summarising the concepts of environmental justice and arguing that an environmental inequality becomes an environmental injustice when it affects human health or excluded groups detrimentally.

A review of the London context takes place highlighting both evidence of environmental inequalities and also pioneering leadership on environmental inequalities within London.

A number of key measures are suggested to drive development of integrated policy addressing environmental justice in London. The report considers major opportunities for immediate action.

Conclusions

The report lists 11 recommendations targeted at London, public agencies, the voluntary and community sectors and relevant businesses in more detail within the report.

Contact info

London Sustainability Exchange
Phone: +44 020 7324 3636
info@lsx.org.uk

Publication date

Project finished

/11/2004

Researcher

London Sustainability Exchange, Chris Church, Maria Adebowale

Links

Visit the London Sustainability Exchange website

Download the 'Environmental Justice in London' Report (PDF, Eng, 1.4 MB)

Document type

research

Themes

Urban Policy > Social inclusion & integration

Keywords

Equality, Quality of life