雅思阅读

📖 Reading Passage

The concept of 'environmental justice' has evolved significantly since its emergence in the 1980s, when it primarily addressed the disproportionate siting of hazardous waste facilities in low-income and minority communities. Over time, the term has broadened to encompass a wider range of issues, including climate change impacts, access to clean water and air, and the unequal distribution of environmental benefits such as parks and green spaces. Scholars argue that this expansion is both necessary and problematic. On one hand, it highlights systemic inequalities that affect vulnerable populations globally. On the other hand, critics contend that the term has become so diffuse that it risks losing its analytical precision, making it harder to design targeted policy interventions. Despite these debates, the core principle remains: all people, regardless of race, income, or geography, deserve equal protection from environmental harms and equal access to environmental resources. This principle has driven grassroots movements and influenced international agreements, yet implementation gaps persist, particularly in developing nations where regulatory frameworks are weak.