Environmental Justice in Theory and Practice

About

Explore one of the most urgent challenges of our time—how to make environmental action just. This interactive summer course delves into environmental justice, asking: who benefits, who loses, and why? You'll engage with contemporary philosophical debates, real-world case studies, and justice movements from around the globe. Learn how environmental decisions affect vulnerable communities, ecosystems, and future generations across land, sea, and climate. With expert lecturers, guest practitioners, and a hands-on city walk, this interdisciplinary course invites you to critically rethink sustainability, justice, and your role in shaping a more just world.

Course leader

Dr. Marije Schaafsma and Dr. Ina Lehmann

Target group

The course is designed for Master's and PhD students who have taken at least a few courses in environmental issues in their previous course of study. This can include (but is not limited to) courses in conservation biology, climate change, environmental sociology, politics or economics, etc. The level of assessment is advanced master's level but PhD students are also welcome to apply.

Course aim

By the end of this course, students will be able to:

- understand different approaches to environmental justice
- apply environmental justice theories and approaches to case studies
- assess and evaluate situations of potential environmental injustice
- work as a team on questions involving personal (normative) judgement.

Fee info

Student or PhD candidate: €1000, student or PhD candidate at any Dutch university or partner university of VU Amsterdam: €900 Student, PhD candidate or employee of VU Amsterdam, Amsterdam UMC, or an Aurora Network Partner: €750, Non-student: €1200