Models of justice in the environmental debate

Justice has become important in public and private consideration of the env ironment, but a number of different ways of operationalizing justice can be seen. Previous literature suggests that principles stressing responsibilit y and the public good are more common than need and equity in thinking abou t environmental issues. The results from two questionnaire studies, present ed here, confirm that environmental justice-responsibility to other species and to future generations, and the rights of the environment-emerges as th e most highly rated consideration in resolving environmental conflicts and that this factor is distinct from traditional procedural and distributive j ustice factors. Highlighting the individual or the collective makes differe nt justice principles salient bur that the effect depends on one 's origina l position.