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Missed Opportunity?Human Rights and Environmental Justice

With the growing focus on human rights over the past decade, issues of rightsand responsibilities have reached the consciousness of most people in

Britain. It is apparent however, that while discussions on the rights to equalityin terms of race, ethnicity, religion, disability, age, sexual orientation andgender are commonplace - the right to a healthy environment is rarelyfocussed upon. Environmental justice is not a new phenomenon, it effectsevery single person on this planet, yet is least featured in public discourse andpolitical agendas.

Over the years social movements have succeeded in raising awareness ofgender, race and disability rights but for some curious reason, theenvironmental movements appear to be less fortunate in gaining sustainedinterest, despite sustained and conserted efforts on the part of organisations

like BTCV, Black Environmental Network and the National Trust. It is arguedhere that the latter is due mainly to the habit of talking about the environmentand people as two discrete issues rather than being intrinsically linked.

Indeed, in the absence of an in-depth understanding of how poorenvironments impact on diverse groups, approaches to seeking justice forpeople of different colours, disabilities, gender and age would remain limited.Despite the strong case made by proponents of environmental justice, powerelites are slow to grasp the significance of environmental security as a humanright. Moreover while there is much political noise surrounding globalenvironmental concerns, mainly in relation to global warming and climatechange, little is said about how peoples behaviour in local contexts impact onthe local environments. Nor is much said about the differential impact thatpoor environments have on disadvantaged communities.

It is therefore heartening to read the recent report, Inspiring People,Improving Places, published by BTCV, a major player in environmentalimprovement and environmental justice. The report highlights the positiveimpact and behavioural change achieved through environmental volunteering.The interesting case studies throughout the report leaves the reader in littledoubt that investment in environmental volunteering can achieve not only

physical and personal improvement, but ultimately, environmental justice.Interestingly, it is the most disadvantaged, in many cases, that appear willingto give personal time to improve their environment. Perhaps those mostaffected are clearly not prepared to put up with ghastly neighbourhoods dottedwith graffiti or weed ridden community gardens and streets littered with waste.

The BTCV report reminds us of the multiple benefits of volunteering not justfor individuals and their local spaces but also for wider social concerns. Thereport claims that 90% of those who volunteered learned something new.Moreover, a five year BTCV volunteering programme involving 900 000people in deprived areas saw a drop in crime, improved leisure spaces and

increased employment. But thats not all, the report argues that the benefits ofenvironmental volunteering is not limited to social benefits but is also a

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financial investment that pays. For every 1 invested in environmentalvolunteering, there is a potential social return of 4.

The obvious enthusiasm and willingness of the volunteers to change theirlives and local environment is applaudable as is the commitment of BTCV to

work towards a better environment, is one where people are valued,included and involved (BTCV Vision). Disappointingly, the report reveals aless enthusiastic response from Government and Local Authorities, whodespite acknowledging the value of environmental volunteering remainreluctant to ensure sustained and consistent investment in organisations likeBTCV, despite the latters track record of some 50 years in the environmentbusiness.

This reluctance is understandably seen by environmentalists as not takingdue responsibility for environmental security. Sadly this reluctance is amissed opportunity. Recently, the penny has dropped in Scotland, with the

new Scottish Government being quite explicit about the relationship betweenSustainable Development, regeneration, Environmental Justice andEnvironmental Volunteering and their willingness to engage in this area moreconstructively and coherently. They have since established regular ministerialconsultations with the CEOs of environmental organisitions in Scotland aswell as recognising the cross-cutting relationships between key GovernmentDirectorates. A step in the right direction but still a long way to go. Will theScottish equivalents in Wales, Northern Ireland and England follow suit?Failure to do so will undoubtly be at their own peril. With the increasingawareness of rights and responsibilities and a growing human rights culture inBritain, it will not be long before the citizens of Britain will quite rightly demandtheir right to environmental security. Perhaps this might trigger a positivemovement towards environmental justice.

Kay Hampton, FRSA, HEAProfessor in Communities and Race Relations, Glasgow CaledonianUniversityCommissioner, Scottish Human Rights Commission and Equality and HumanRights Commission, UK.