Social justice is not a new concept. In fact, it first appeared in the 1700s in the Federalist Papers. Its definition has evolved over the years, but at its heart, it means fairness in five aspects of our lives. All people -- regardless of geography, economic status, race, or individual attributes like gender, origin, or lifestyle preferences -- should have access to the same quality of life and opportunities
Sustainability relates not just to green building and energy consumption, but also earth-friendly lifestyle practices. A truly sustainable community (and the planet) thrive because the people within it respect, collaborate with, and support each other to build a healthy and long-lasting ecosystem.
The five pillars of social justice, especially as they relate to the green building initiative, are:
The following briefly defines each pillar and its impact on sustainable building.
When people don’t have access to clean air and water, healthy food, and supportive systems for care, the entire community suffers. Environmentally friendly spaces improve the physical, social, and economic well-being of communities. They give people places to organize, socialize, and enjoy active lifestyles.
An estimated 37 million homes in the U.S. suffer from “energy poverty,” which is the inability to meet the household’s energy needs. Affordable and effective lighting, heating, and cooling are critical to maintaining healthy households.
Minorities and low-income communities may not have access to high-quality health care and clean conditions for school and work. That also ultimately results in health problems, and minorities in the U.S. are up to five times more likely to be hospitalized from COVID-19 than non-Hispanic white populations. As many as 13 million children in the U.S. live in food-insecure homes. Access to healthy and affordable food options is a critical aspect of community health.
As it relates to sustainability, equity is defined as “Protection from environmental hazards as well as access to environmental benefits, regardless of income, race, and other characteristics.”
UCLA’s Luskin Center for Innovation summarizes these core areas as potential sources of inequity in green building and development:
Despite efforts to create a more diverse, participatory green building community, we have a long way to go. Globescan tracks the make-up of the sustainability industry and reports, for example, that the green building industry still skews primarily male and that many women (a third) have faced discrimination in their job roles.
Back in 1986, the United Nations declared that “Everyone is entitled to participate in, contribute to, and enjoy economic, social, cultural, and political development, in which all human rights and fundamental freedoms can be fully realized.” The right to breathe clean air at home, work, and school is clearly part of these freedoms.
Entities like Harvard Law School are committed to studying and analyzing the impact of environmental factors on basic human rights. They bring together global thought leaders, analysts, and change-makers to explore and rectify social injustices related to climate change and other environmental factors.
