ENV 682a () / 2025-2026

Environmental Justice/Water Justice

Credits: 3 Fall 2025: Time and location TBA

The basic premise of this course is that water is about power. Water problems around the world are not being experienced equally by different sectors of society but rather reflect—and exacerbate—underlying current and historical power asymmetries among different communities and identities. These inequalities are not limited to the issue of water rights (who gets how much water) but can be found across the whole range of water issues, from water quality to flooding to the impacts of dams. Likewise, these inequalities are reflected not just in the rules that determine water distribution, but also in the infrastructure, institutions, information, and incentives that form the basis of water management. This course explores the complex intersections of water access, equity, and environmental sustainability rights, and environmental justice. It examines historical and contemporary issues surrounding water distribution, policymaking, and the impact on marginalized communities. Through case studies and critical analysis, students will engage with environmental justice, policymaking, and community action concepts, aiming to foster a deeper understanding of the need for equitable water distribution and governance in a changing climate.