Founding environmental justice definitions center community capacity and functioning

Evidence

The capabilities argument, where justice includes these elements in a larger picture of the basic functioning of individuals and communities, is also articulated, if not in Sen and Nussbaum’s own words. Bryant’s early definition of environmental justice serves as an example here. Environmental justice refers to places ‘where people can interact with confidence that the environment is safe, nurturing, and productive. Environmental justice is served when people can realize their highest potential’ (Bryant 1995: 6). Bryant includes decent paying and safe jobs, quality schools, recreation, housing, and health care, democratic decision-making and personal empowerment—all in addition to distributive justice. Here is one of the founders and intellectual pillars of the movement, articulating a notion of environmental justice based, essentially, in a notion of community capabilities and functioning. — David Schlosberg, Defining Environmental Justice, 257

Categorization

• XREF: Connects to the capability-approach material in chs 27-34 of this book, and gives Eco-Justice pedagogy a concrete movement voice for the capabilities vocabulary. — connects to: Environmental justice groups pursue community functioning beyond distributional equality — David Schlosberg, Defining Environmental Justice:…, 258; Environmental justice comprises recognition and participation as well as distribution — David Schlosberg, Defining Environmental Justice:…, 12; The environmental justice movement’s founding principles integrated justice dimensions from its earliest moments. — David Schlosberg, Defining Environmental Justice:…, 265 (+2 more)
• DEFINE: Bryant’s definition is a usable, citable characterization of environmental justice as capability/functioning beyond mere distribution.

Broader Connections

• Environmental justice comprises recognition and participation as well as distribution #expands (0.85) — David Schlosberg, Defining Environmental Justice, 12
• The environmental justice movement’s founding principles integrated justice dimensions from its earliest moments. #corroborates (0.85) — David Schlosberg, Defining Environmental Justice, 265
• Global environmental justice movements define justice as distribution plus recognition, participation, and capabilities. #expands (0.80) — David Schlosberg, Defining Environmental Justice, 276
• Environmental justice groups organize already-existing communities that insist on recognition #expands (0.75) — David Schlosberg, Defining Environmental Justice, 230