雅思阅读

📖 Reading Passage

The concept of 'environmental justice' has evolved significantly over the past three decades, moving from a grassroots movement focused on local pollution disparities to a broader framework addressing global climate impacts. Initially, scholars like Robert Bullard highlighted how marginalized communities disproportionately bore the burden of toxic waste sites. However, recent research emphasizes that climate change exacerbates these inequities, as vulnerable populations in low-lying coastal areas face rising sea levels and extreme weather events without adequate adaptive capacity. This shift has prompted international policy debates, particularly regarding 'loss and damage' mechanisms, which aim to compensate developing nations for irreversible climate harms. Critics argue that such mechanisms lack clear legal binding and financial commitments, while proponents contend they represent a moral imperative. Ultimately, environmental justice now requires a multi-scalar approach, integrating local activism with transnational governance structures to address both historical injustices and future climate risks.