This book investigates the conceptual foundations of environmental and ecological justice by questioning how the term 'justice' is defined and applied within both activist movements and academic theory. David Schlosberg, a scholar in environmental politics, synthesizes diverse perspectives to argue that a comprehensive framework for justice must move beyond simple distribution to incorporate recognition, capabilities, and participatory processes. He posits that an integrated approach is necessary to address environmental risks for human populations while simultaneously accounting for the ethical status of non-human nature.

Scholars and students of political science frequently cite this work as a foundational text for understanding the evolution of justice theory in environmental discourse. Readers often note the academic density of the prose, which is well-suited for advanced undergraduate and graduate-level study in political theory and environmental sociology.