Abstract
This chapter explores the relationships between justice and sustainability theory and argues that despite being entwined, practical and theoretical challenges prevent an easy or complete integration of these two concepts. Specifically, we examine how the multiscalar, multigenerational, and multidimensional characteristics of sustainability interact with ideas of just processes or just outcomes. Using insights from justice theory, sustainability science, and the social psychology of justice, we suggest we ask questions like: what would a just multiscalar and multigenerational sustainability process look like? If social context changes how people use or understand ideas of justice, what should justice look like in complex sustainability challenges that extend across traditional boundaries? We suggest that although these issues present persistent theoretical challenges, past and ongoing efforts – such as environmental justice work or international climate negotiations – provide some lessons and guidance about strategies for assisting this integration in practice. Overall this chapter suggests that although fully integrating justice and sustainability may not be entirely possible, sustainability without a consideration of justice would be nonsensical from a normative perspective and difficult to achieve strategically. This leaves us with a strong rationale to insist on the centrality of justice in any sustainability effort, but with an awareness of the complexities of doing so.
Keywords
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.
Buying options
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Learn about institutional subscriptionsFurther Reading
Agyeman J, Bullard R, Evans B (2003) Just sustainabilities: development in an unequal world. MIT Press, Cambridge, MA
Dobson A (1999) Fairness and futurity: essays on environmental sustainability and social justice. Oxford University Press, New York
Fraser N (2009) Scales of justice: reimagining political space in a globalizing world. Columbia University Press, New York
Mutz KM, Bryner GC, Kenney DS (eds) (2002) Justice and natural resources: concepts, strategies, and applications. Island Press, Washington, DC
References
Asheim GB, Mitra T (2010) Sustainability and utilitarianism in discounted models of economic growth. Math Soc Sci 59(2):148–169
Baer P, Athanasiou T, Kartha S, Kemp-Benedict E (2009) Greenhouse development rights: a proposal for a fair Global Climate Treaty. Ethics Place Environ 12(3):267–281. doi:10.1080/13668790903195495
Bebbington J (2000) Sustainable development: a review of the international development, business and accounting literature. Aberdeen papers in accountancy, finance & management working paper 00–17
Beckerman W (1999) Sustainable development and our obligations to future generations. In: Dobson A (ed) Fairness and futurity: essays on environmental sustainability and social justice. Oxford University Press, New York, pp 71–92
Brundtland GH (1987) Our common future. Oxford University Press, New York
Bryner G (2002) Assessing claims of environmental justice. In: Mutz KM, Bryner GC, Kenney DS (eds) Justice and natural resources: concepts, strategies, and applications. Island Press, Washington, DC
Bullard RD (1983) Solid waste sites and the black Houston community. Sociol Inq 53:273–273
Clinton WJ (1994) Federal actions to address environmental justice in minority populations and low-income populations, Executive Order 12898 of February 11, 1994. Fed Regist 59:7629–7633
Cole DH (2008) The Stern review and its critics: implications for the theory and practice of benefit-cost analysis. Nat Resour J 48:53
Deutsch M (1975) Equity, equality, and need: what determines which value will be used as the basis of distributive justice? J Soc Issues 31(3):137–149. doi:10.1111/j.1540-4560.1975.tb01000.x
Endress L, Pongkijvorasin S, Roumasset J, Pitafi B (2009) Impatience and intergenerational equity in a model of sustainable growth. Working paper no. 09–6
Fainstein S (2010) The just city. Cornell University Press, Ithaca
Fischer F (2000) Citizens, experts, and the environment: the politics of local knowledge. Duke University Press, Durham
Fischhoff B (1991) Value elicitation: is there anything in there? Am Psychol 46(8):835–847. doi:10.1037/0003-066X.46.8.835
Fiske AP, Tetlock PE (1997) Taboo trade-offs: reactions to transactions that transgress the spheres of justice. Pol Psychol 18(2):255–297. doi:10.1111/0162-895X.00058
Gardiner S, Caney S, Jamieson D, Shue H (eds) (2010) Climate ethics: essential readings. Oxford University Press, Oxford/New York
Geels FW (2010) Ontologies, socio-technical transitions (to sustainability), and the multi-level perspective. Res Policy 39(4):495–510. doi:10.1016/j.respol.2010.01.022
Gibson RB (2006) Beyond the pillars: sustainability assessment as a framework for effective integration of social, economic and ecological considerations in significant decision-making. J Environ Assess Policy Manag 08(03):259–280. doi:10.1142/S1464333206002517
Golub A, Mahoney M, Harlow J (2013) Sustainability and intergenerational equity: do past injustices matter? Sustain Sci 8(2):269–277
Gregory R, Lichtenstein S, Slovic P (1993) Valuing environmental resources: a constructive approach. J Risk Uncertain 7(2):177–197. doi:10.1007/BF01065813
Harlow J, Golub A, Allenby B (2011) An exploration of Utopian themes in sustainable development discourse. Sustain Dev 21(4):270–280
Howarth RB (2003) Discounting and uncertainty in climate change policy analysis. Land Econ 79(3):369–381. doi:10.3368/le.79.3.369
Jerneck A, Olsson L, Ness B, Anderberg S, Baier M, Clark E, Hickler T, Hornborg A, Kronsell A, Lovbrand E, Persson J (2011) Structuring sustainability science. Sustain Sci 6(1):69–82
Kates RW, Parris TM, Leiserowitz AA (2005) Sustainability science. Environ Sci Policy Sustain Dev 47(3):8–21
Klinsky S, Dowlatabadi H, McDaniels T (2012) Comparing public rationales for justice trade-offs in mitigation and adaptation climate policy dilemmas. Glob Environ Chang 22(4):862–876. doi:10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2012.05.008
Lee BL (1997) Civil rights and legal remedies: a plan of action. In: Bullard R, Johnson G (eds) Just transportation: dismantling race and class barrier to mobility. New Society Publishers, Connecticut, pp 156–172
Lindseth G (2006) Scalar strategies in climate-change politics: debating the environmental consequences of a natural gas project. Environ Plan C Gov Policy 24(5):739–754. doi:10.1068/c0513j
Mikula G, Wenzel M (2000) Justice and social conflict. Int J Psychol 35(2):126–135. doi:10.1080/002075900399420
Miller D (2002) Debate – Caney’s ‘International distributive justice’: a response. Polit Stud 50(5):974–977
Miller D (2005) Against global egalitarianism. In: Brock G, Moellendorf D (eds) Current debates in global justice. Springer, Netherlands, pp 55–79
Miller TR, Wiek A, Sarewitz D, Robinson J, Olsson L, Kriebel D, Loorbach D (2014) The future of sustainability science: a solutions-oriented research agenda. Sustain Sci 9(2):239–246
Nozick R (1974) Anarchy, state, and utopia. Basic Books, New York
Ott HE, Winkler H, Brouns B, Kartha S, Mace M, Huq S, Rahman A (2004) South-North dialogue on equity in the greenhouse: a proposal for an adequate and equitable global climate agreement. Deutsche Gesellschaft für Technische Zusammenarbeit (GTZ). Retrieved from http://www.erc.uct.ac.za/Research/publications/04Ott-etal-SouthNorthDiaLogue.pdf
Sassen S, Dotan N (2011) Delegating, not returning, to the biosphere: how to use the multi-scalar and ecological properties of cities. Glob Environ Chang 21(3):823–834. doi:10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2011.03.018
Smith A, Voß J-P, Grin J (2010) Innovation studies and sustainability transitions: the allure of the multi-level perspective and its challenges. Res Policy 39(4):435–448. doi:10.1016/j.respol.2010.01.023
Trappenburg M (2000) In defense of pure pluralism: two readings of Walzer’s spheres of justice. J Polit Philos 8:343–362
U.S. General Accounting Office (USGAO) (1983) Siting of hazardous waste landfills and their correlation with the racial and socio-economic status of surrounding communities. General Accounting Office, Washington, DC
United Church of Christ (1987) Toxic wastes and race in the United States. United Church of Christ, New York. http://www.ucc.org/about-us/archives/pdfs/toxwrace87.pdf
Walzer M (1983) Spheres of justice: a defense of pluralism and equality. Basic Books, New York
Wenzel M (2004) Social identification as a determinant of concerns about individual-, group-, and inclusive-level justice. Soc Psychol Q 67(1):70–87. doi:10.1177/019027250406700107
Wiek A, Ness B, Brand FS, Schweizer-Ries P, Farioli F (2012) From complex systems analysis to transformational change: a comparative appraisal of sustainability science projects. Sustain Sci 7(Supplement 1):5–24
Wilbanks TJ (2002) Geographic scaling issues in integrated assessments of climate change. Integr Assess 3(2–3):100–114. doi:10.1076/iaij.3.2.100.13575
Winkler H, Jayaraman T, Pan J, Santihago de Oliveira A, Zhang Y, Sant G, … Raubenheimer S (2011) Equitable access to sustainable development: a paper by experts from BASIC countries. BASIC Expert Group, Beijing/Brasilia/Cape Town/Mumbai
Wolsink M (2007) Wind power implementation: the nature of public attitudes: equity and fairness instead of “backyard motives”. Renew Sustain Energy Rev 11(6):1188–1207. doi:10.1016/j.rser.2005.10.005
Yabareen J (2008) A new conceptual framework for sustainable development. Environ Dev Sustain 10:179–192
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2016 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Klinsky, S., Golub, A. (2016). Justice and Sustainability. In: Heinrichs, H., Martens, P., Michelsen, G., Wiek, A. (eds) Sustainability Science. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-7242-6_14
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-7242-6_14
Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht
Print ISBN: 978-94-017-7241-9
Online ISBN: 978-94-017-7242-6
eBook Packages: Earth and Environmental ScienceEarth and Environmental Science (R0)