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.