Environmental Justice in Theory and Practice

Environmental problems and solutions often create unequal benefits and burdens, making environmental justice a central challenge for sustainability. This course explores how societies can pursue environmental change that is both effective and fair.

Participants will engage with philosophical theories of justice, debates on values and decision-making, and the perspectives of communities, Indigenous peoples, activists, and policymakers. Through real-world cases from fields such as climate adaptation, conservation, energy transitions, or urban inequalities, students examine competing understandings of justice and their practical implications. Combining theory, empirical examples, practitioner perspectives, and a site visit in Amsterdam, the course offers an interdisciplinary and highly interactive learning experience.