雅思阅读

📖 Reading Passage

The concept of 'environmental justice' has evolved significantly since its inception in the 1980s, when it primarily addressed the disproportionate burden of pollution on marginalized communities. Contemporary scholarship extends this framework to encompass global climate change, recognizing that developing nations, despite contributing minimally to historical emissions, often suffer the most severe consequences of rising sea levels and extreme weather events. This shift has prompted a re-evaluation of responsibility, moving beyond simple national emission targets toward a more nuanced understanding of historical accountability and technological equity. Critics argue, however, that such an approach risks economic inefficiency by prioritizing moral obligations over pragmatic solutions. Nevertheless, proponents contend that without addressing the structural inequalities embedded in environmental policy, any mitigation effort will remain inherently incomplete, as the most vulnerable populations lack the resources to adapt to changes largely wrought by others.