Environmental justice in Latin America and the Caribbean:

Legal empowerment of the poor in the context of climate change

Authors: Michael MacLennan and Leisa Perch

The article explores how marginalized communities, especially indigenous peoples, bear a disproportionate burden from environmental degradation and climate change impacts. It discusses the poverty-inequality-environment nexus in the region and evolving notions of environmental justice. The authors analyze legal frameworks, international conventions, and social movements aimed at securing rights, access to justice, and benefit-sharing for these groups regarding natural resource exploitation. Case studies highlight efforts around land rights, community consultations, and challenges like REDD+ initiatives. The article argues for legal empowerment strategies to promote inclusive, sustainable development by enhancing marginalized groups’ capacity to exercise economic rights effectively.

Topics Explored:

  •  Disproportionate environmental impact on poor and indigenous people
  •  Latin America and Caribbean as examples
  •  Importance of land and resource rights for marginalized groups
  •  New laws and agreements protecting rights of marginalized communities
  •  Indigenous advocacy and protests for ancestral land rights
  •  Potential conflict between REDD+ and indigenous land rights
  •  Empowering marginalized groups for fair, sustainable development
  •  Addressing gender inequalities faced by poor women

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