Reviewing the Role of Distributive, Participatory, and Recognition Elements for Establishing Environmental Justice

In contemporary society, the concept of 'justice' is applied across various dimensions. Until now, we have observed the application of the term in social, political, and economic contexts. However, it is indisputable that, although widely recognised as a component of fundamental rights, 'Environmental Justice' has been comparatively underappreciated among scholar communities and activists, including mainstream environmentalists, economists, and political and social theorists. Consequently, despite their robust commitment to promoting justice in society, its appropriate attainment remains elusive. In developing nations, as well as in socioeconomically developed countries, justice is not assured across every segment of society. The fundamental cause of the failure to guarantee justice can be attributed to the failure to establish the three fundamental elements of justice—distributive, participatory, and recognition—within society. Observations of real-world instances indicate that, despite the establishment of the two elements of justice—distributive and participatory—justice in society remains unattainable. This results from the government's and policy-making institutions' lack of attention to the third component of justice—justice as recognition. This article will emphasise the significance of establishing the three elements of justice to ensure global environmental justice. I will demonstrate that, notwithstanding their significance in building societal justice, the recognition element is crucial, as its inception facilitates the establishment of distributive and participatory elements of justice. Therefore, I will conclude that justice as recognition must be deemed of paramount importance and ensured first in order to ensure global environmental justice.