Environmental conflict

Environmental conflicts are social struggles caused by environmental degradation or the unequal distribution of natural resources. These disputes are often called ecological distribution conflicts (EDCs). This term describes situations where the benefits of resources go to some, while the costs go to others. For example, a factory might profit from a river but pollute the water for a local community. These conflicts can happen at local levels or on a global scale. They often involve complex relationships between different social actors and the natural world.

These conflicts arise from the way our industrial economy functions. Currently, less than 10% of materials and energy are recycled. This means the economy must constantly expand to find new resources. Companies do this through territorial claims or land grabs to get new materials. They also invest in new technology to make extracting resources from existing sites more efficient. This constant need for expansion creates pressure on commodity frontiers. These are areas where new natural resources are being taken for industrial use.

Different types of industries trigger these struggles at various stages of the commodity chain. Conflicts can happen during the extraction of energy or materials. They can also occur during the transportation and production of goods. Finally, disputes arise during the final disposal of waste. A major study of 2,743 conflicts found specific patterns in these sectors. Mining was the most frequent cause at 21%. Fossil energy followed at 17%. Biomass and land use accounted for 15%, while water management made up 14% of the cases.

The nature of these conflicts often changes depending on a country's wealth. In low-income countries, many conflicts focus on conservation, water management, and land use. In high-income countries, the focus shifts toward different issues. Almost half of the conflicts in wealthy nations involve waste management, tourism, or nuclear power. Other common topics in these areas include industrial zones and infrastructure projects. Regardless of the location, these struggles often involve protecting the rights of indigenous people and peasants.

Researchers use the Environmental Justice Atlas (EJAtlas) to track these global events. The project is housed at the ICTA of the Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona. It was founded by Leah Temper and Joan Martinez-Alier, with coordination by Daniela Del Bene. The Atlas aims to analyze the political outcomes of ecological distribution conflicts. Since 2012, academics and activists have worked together to build this database. In April 2020, it documented 3,100 conflicts. By July 2021, the number of entries had reached 3,500.

The concept of EDCs has a deep intellectual history. In 1874, Karl Marx discussed how economic relations can be exploitative. He argued that capitalism requires the subjugation of certain populations to grow. In 1995, Joan Martínez-Alier and Martin O'Connor expanded this idea. They realized that "economic distribution conflicts" only looked at money. They created the term "ecological distribution conflict" to include environmental resources. This helped scholars study how power affects access to nature and pollution burdens.

Social movements often respond to these conflicts through direct action and protest. Many struggles begin with self-organized local groups using non-violent tactics. These groups sometimes use "collective action frames" to share their message. These frames include powerful slogans like "keep the oil in the soil." Some scholars call this the "environmentalism of the poor." This refers to defenders protecting their land from industrial forces. These movements are a force for sustainability in the world.

Success is possible through these organized efforts. According to the EJAtlas, about 17% of registered conflicts are considered successes. A success might mean stopping an unsustainable project. It could also mean redistributing resources in a more egalitarian way. These movements help challenge the mainstream relationship between humans and the environment. They advocate for values like the rights of nature and indigenous territorial rights. This work connects fields like political ecology and ecological economics to real-world change.