Author
Agunbiade, S. A.
Abstract
Across Africa, the degradation of the environment poses significant threats to the natural rights of the individuals, such as right to life, equality, fair hearing and dignity. These individuals often bear the brunt of pollution, toxic waste importation, land grabbing for investment purposes, resources exploitation and the impacts of climate change, leading to adverse health effects, displacement, and loss of livelihoods. It is on the basis of these problems, the paper critically discusses the problem of human rights in environmental injustice; It attempts to show how the problem of environmental injustice has affected not only the community, but also the rights of the individuals in the community. Through human rights approach, the paper identifies how some environmental problems such as: overexploitation of resources, climatic change, global warming, toxic waste, importation, and land grabbing, have affected the rights of individuals; it establishes a symmetric between the natural rights of the individuals and environmental injustices, which affects the sustainable development of the African societies. To tackle these challenges, the paper argues for the adoption of deliberative democracy, which serves as a theoretical framework that highlights the importance of reasoned discourse, public deliberation, and the inclusion of diverse perspectives in shaping policies and actions. By integrating this framework into the pursuit of sustainable development, African nations can ensure the protection of human rights, prioritize environmental justice, and make decisions collectively and transparently.
Keywords
Africa, Deliberative democracy, Environmental justice, Human rights,
Inclusivity
Introduction
In Africa, like in other parts of the world, politics, the economy, and the environment are interconnected. According to Mohammed Salih (1999), in Africa, various groups compete for state power, and this competition is heavily influenced by the desire to control resources for both economic and livelihood purposes. The history of different groups and governments in the continent revolves around the pursuit of controlling natural resources and, consequently, shaping politics. Once in power, different groups have utilized various methods, often undemocratic, to exploit the benefits of these resources, often to the advantage of the ruling group while disadvantaging other groups or leading to broader socio-economic injustices. So basically, what is being argued here is that in Africa, there are issues with political culture and violations of civil and political rights. This has led to a limited voice for those affected by environmental and socioeconomic injustice. Even when people try to seek justice, governments often respond with undemocratic and inhumane actions to silence them. Africa has faced social and environmental injustices, like being a dumping site for toxic waste before the Basel Convention was passed in 1989. The exporting of hazardous waste, especially electronic waste, from Western countries to Africa is still a big problem. The overexploitation of natural resources by multinational corporations and local governments is also a major issue. For example, in the Niger Delta region, oil fields are overexploited, benefiting the wealthy while harming the local people.
Content
There are also concerns about international land deals in Africa, where countries like China, India, and Turkey make agreements with African countries without considering the interests of local people or conducting environmental impact assessments. Climate change is another major global problem, and although African countries contribute less to it, they still face its severe consequences. To add to the challenges, a significant number of governments in Africa lack democratic practices and fail to uphold the human, civil, and political rights of their citizens (Adeola, 2000). This absence of democratic values and principles has resulted in various social, human, and environmental issues. African governments often deny equal opportunities for participation in decisionmaking processes based on factors such as ethnicity, gender, religion, and education. This perpetuates and reinforces environmental injustices through the denial of fundamental human and political rights. It is on the basis of these, the paper critically discusses the problem of human rights in environmental injustice; it attempts to show how the problem of environmental injustice has affected not only the community, but also the natural rights of the individuals in the community. In doing this, the paper shall start with the conceptual clarification of some key words, such as environment, environmental problem, and environmental justice.
Conclusion
From the above discussion, the paper argues that framing environmental injustice in Africa, and elsewhere, as a matter of human rights alone is not enough to ensure the adoption of fair environmental policies and strategies. While the connection between human rights and environmental concerns has been recognized since the 1972 Stockholm Conference, there is still a need for stronger links between the two. Many countries lack the political commitment to uphold democratic principles within their institutions. Although environmental rights may be included in constitutions, there is often a failure to protect and promote these rights effectively. Constitutionalizing environmental rights can help emphasize the value a society places on environmental protection, encourage inter-state cooperation, and promote citizen participation. However, it is unrealistic to expect the realization of these provisions without first considering fundamental democratic principles. Many times, what is written on paper does not translate into practical action. Some governments that grant constitutional environmental rights may not have an impressive track record in protecting both the environment and human rights. Therefore, it is crucial to not only promote and protect environmental rights legally, but also ensure a genuine commitment to democratic principles. In the context of deliberative democracy, one important aspect is the value of reasonableness. This applies to both the citizens participating in the deliberation process and the decision makers involved.
References
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