Environmental contract
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An environmental
contract A contract is an agreement that specifies certain legally enforceable rights and obligations pertaining to two or more parties. A contract typically involves consent to transfer of goods, services, money, or promise to transfer any of thos ...
is a concept that expresses the
rights Rights are law, legal, social, or ethics, ethical principles of freedom or Entitlement (fair division), entitlement; that is, rights are the fundamental normative rules about what is allowed of people or owed to people according to some legal sy ...
and responsibilities of
citizens Citizenship is a membership and allegiance to a sovereign state. Though citizenship is often conflated with nationality in today's English-speaking world, international law does not usually use the term ''citizenship'' to refer to nationality; ...
,
businesses Business is the practice of making one's living or making money by producing or buying and selling products (such as goods and services). It is also "any activity or enterprise entered into for profit." A business entity is not necessari ...
and the
state State most commonly refers to: * State (polity), a centralized political organization that regulates law and society within a territory **Sovereign state, a sovereign polity in international law, commonly referred to as a country **Nation state, a ...
when it comes to the environment. The term aims to outline a framework of mutual obligations for managing environmental impacts, addressing both global and local environmental issues.


Origin and Development

It is not known who invented the term. The British politician
David Miliband David Wright Miliband (born 15 July 1965) is the president and chief executive officer (CEO) of the International Rescue Committee and a former British Labour Party politician. He was the Foreign Secretary from 2007 to 2010 and the Member o ...
used it when he was appointed
Secretary of State for the Environment The secretary of state for the environment was a UK cabinet position, responsible for the Department of the Environment (DoE). Today, its responsibilities are carried out by the secretary of state for environment, food and rural affairs and the ...
in May 2006, both in his blog, and in an article on the BBC News website. He initiated the launch of a wiki, to form an environmental contract. However, the site was edited heavily by Government officials, rendering pointless the exercise to interact with the public. While the origins of the term are not entirely clear, it is often compared to the
social contract In moral and political philosophy, the social contract is an idea, theory, or model that usually, although not always, concerns the legitimacy of the authority of the state over the individual. Conceptualized in the Age of Enlightenment, it ...
, a philosophical idea that outlines the relationship between individuals, society and the state. The environmental contract draws parallels with this notion, aiming to establish responsibilities for addressing environmental degradation, similar to how the social contract addresses societal welfare and justice. The term can be seen as an invitation to invite parallels with the idea of a social contract between workers, employers and the state which underpinned the foundation of the
welfare state A welfare state is a form of government in which the State (polity), state (or a well-established network of social institutions) protects and promotes the economic and social well-being of its citizens, based upon the principles of equal oppor ...
. Some have argued that, just as the social contract was a way of addressing social dislocation, so the environmental contract can be a way of addressing the environmental impacts which pose a threat to people and the planet in the 21st century.


Real-World Applications

The environmental contract has been explored as a means to implement sustainability practices in various sectors. One example is the European Union's Growth Strategy, particularly the
Europe 2020 Europe 2020 is a 10-year strategy proposed by the European Commission on 3 March 2010 for advancement of the economy of the European Union. It aims at a " smart, sustainable, inclusive growth" with greater coordination of national and European p ...
framework, which advocates for a sustainable low-carbon economy and addresses environmental concerns in the context of economic growth. In this case, the EU envisions a collective commitment between governments, businesses, and citizens to work towards sustainability goals, which can be seen as an extension of the environmental contract concept. Another example is found in corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives, where companies commit to reducing their environmental footprint and engaging with communities to promote sustainability. Many businesses now align their practices with global sustainability standards, reflecting the principles of the environmental contract by acknowledging their role in environmental preservation.


Environmental citizenship

Environmental citizenship (EC) is a concept related to environmental contract, and is defined as the responsible pro-environmental behavior of citizens who act and participate in society as agents of change in the private and public sphere, on a local, national and global scale, through individual and collective actions, in the direction of solving contemporary environmental problems, preventing the creation of new environmental problems, achieving sustainability as well as developing a healthy relationship with nature. Environmental citizenship includes the exercise of environmental rights and duties, as well as the identification of the underlying structural causes of
environmental degradation Environment most often refers to: __NOTOC__ * Natural environment, referring respectively to all living and non-living things occurring naturally and the physical and biological factors along with their chemical interactions that affect an organism ...
and environmental problems, the development of the willingness and the competences for critical and active engagement and civic participation to address those structural causes, acting individually and collectively within democratic means, and taking into account inter- and intra-generational justice. Environmental citizenship is a key factor in EU's growth strategy (
Europe 2020 Europe 2020 is a 10-year strategy proposed by the European Commission on 3 March 2010 for advancement of the economy of the European Union. It aims at a " smart, sustainable, inclusive growth" with greater coordination of national and European p ...
) and its vision for Sustainable Development, Green and Cycle economy and Low-carbon society (EU-roadmap 2050). Because of its emphasis on rights and responsibilities, there are clear links between the environmental contract and notions of environmental citizenship. EC may shed light on the research of environmental contract into the way publics are built in everyday settings, if it is built firmly around the notions of justice, knowledge and language.


Criticism and Limitations

Despite its appeal, the environmental contract concept faces criticism. Some argue that the notion of reciprocal obligations (i.e., "I will act if you act") is insufficient when addressing urgent environmental issues, such as climate change. Advocates for stronger action assert that sustainability efforts should not depend on reciprocal actions from others but rather be driven by the intrinsic urgency of environmental crises. This perspective suggests that an "I will, regardless of what you do" approach may be more responsible when confronting pressing environmental threats. Additionally, some critics point out that the environmental contract, like its social counterpart, may fail to address the underlying structural causes of environmental degradation, such as overconsumption, industrial practices, and inequitable economic systems. As a result, while the environmental contract may promote cooperation, it may not fully address the systemic changes required to ensure long-term environmental sustainability.


Conclusion

The environmental contract is a framework that provides a basis for mutual responsibility amongst individuals, businesses, and governments in addressing environmental challenges. While it has inspired both policy discussions and corporate commitments to sustainability, it is also subject to criticism regarding its ability to drive meaningful change. Nonetheless, it remains an important concept in discussions about environmental governance, with connections to environmental citizenship and sustainability efforts globally.


See also

* Environmental politics


References

{{sustainability Environmentalism Environmental issues in the United Kingdom