Defending Environmental Rights: an Ecological Democracy Perspective

Siti Aliyuna Pratisti

doi:10.19184/jseahr.v1i2.5283

Abstract

Environmental problems are amongst the most complex issues faced by the government. The reason why such problem is difficult to tackle lie within its basic assumption which often contradictory to the country’s development agenda. Take an example of Cement Plant controversy that happened recently – the plant that situated in Mount Kendeng, Pati, Central Java, considered harmful to the surrounding and threatening the environmental right of the people who lives in nearby areas. This case can be referred as government misconduct on neglecting basic environmental right. Environmental rights itself are commonly understood as the reformulation and expansion of existing human rights and duties in the context of environmental protection. However, although it has received much attention at grass root level conveyed by activist group and people based community, environmental rights still do not have strong recognition, whether in domestic level and also in international level. Therefore, this research attempt to modulate recognition on environmental right by emphasizing ecological democracy perspective, particularly in public participation in environmental policy making. Public participation is vital to ecological democracy as the key to sustainable development and in defending the environmental rights. The concept itself tries to bridge the government and public needs – to ensure that the public can participate in any ways by providing feedback and solutions. There are three main types of environmental rights – procedural, substantive, and solidarity. As for this research, we will focus on solidarity aspects, to explain the public engagement in environmental policy making.

Highlights

There are many environmental problems which have arisen in recent years, especially since the beginning of the 20th century when discoveries and scientific advancements ironically turned out to be major threats to human development itself
There is an effort within the environmentalist community to emphasize the importance of securing and enforcing environmental rights. It is still far from being realized, a widespread understanding of ecological democracy and community based sustainability will lead to greater protection of environmental rights, especially for the vulnerable communities directly affected by unsustainable development
Concerning the study environmentalism and the fulfillment of environmental rights, a thorough understanding of green politics and the principles of ecological democracy is needed to establish a clear framework for environmental policy making

Summary

INTRODUCTION

There are many environmental problems which have arisen in recent years, especially since the beginning of the 20th century when discoveries and scientific advancements ironically turned out to be major threats to human development itself. Despite the court order, the plant reopened in April 2017 after receiving a green light in the form of act 660.1/30 2016 issued by the Government of Central Java To this day, the community of Gunung Kendeng has continued voice their dissatisfaction in an effort to maintain the right to access and protect land in Gunung Kendeng. Given the scale to which the environment plays a role in the everyday lives of the Indonesian people, the government should provide greater recognition of the population’s environmental rights by involving communities in the policy-making process. In an effort to raise awareness and increase the recognition of environmental rights, the concept of ecological democracy should beat the heart of policy making and implementation This will ensure that awareness for environmental principles is raised among government officials, but in private industry and the wider society as a whole

DEFENDING ENVIRONMENTAL RIGHTS

Ecological Democracy

Engaging People

Findings

CONCLUSION