Justice for All: Promoting Environmental Justice in South Asia

This report description is an excerpt from the Panos South Asia website

The environment has been the focus of much attention in recent years. This has resulted in a spate of debates and activism at all levels across the globe. While the consequent conservation and protection measures have contributed to improved environments in many parts of the world, the poorest in poor regions are often paying the highest price. Along with poverty, environment problems filter down to the bottom of the heap. Unfortunately, many 'solutions' - disposal of city waste, relocation of polluting industries, diversion of water - contribute to this filtration process. Living on the fringes of environment problems - on the edges of degrading forests or on the banks of dwindling, filthy rivers - the poor get more than their share of the blame. The main culprits living faraway in their air-conditioned comfort are not held accountable and go scot-free. This report raises some of these issues and suggests that the environment debate needs to move beyond conservation and protection to accountability and justice issues.

Click here to go to this report in PDF format.

Contact: psa@panos.org.np to request a printed copy.