Over the past decades, issues of environmental justice have come to public attention. Widespread environmental related disempowerment and lopsided policies have had disproportionate impacts on people. Those expected to bear more than their share of environmental burdens are the poor and the marginalized communities.

There are fewer opportunities for young people to explore environmental questions or relate to the complex issues involved, which limits their possibility to be more involved later on.

EEJP pursues the mission of strengthening environmental justice movement by supporting research, environmental advocacy, policy development, dissemination, education and training, and practice.

In this context, 'Environmental Justice' is understood to mean 'fair treatment' and 'meaningful involvement' of all people regardless of their class, caste, origin, or income with respect to access to resources as well as development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations and policies. Fair treatment means that no one group of people should bear a disproportionate share of the negative environmental consequences resulting from industrial, municipal and commercial operations or the execution of environmental programs and policies. Meaningful involvement means that the potentially affected community have an appropriate opportunity to participate in decision about a proposed activity that will affect their environment and/or health; the public's contribution can influence the regulatory agency's decision; the concerns of all participants involved will be considered in the decision making process; and the decision makers seek out and facilitate the involvement of those potentially affected.

EEJP has the following key objectives:

• To foster and catalyse environmental work at the grassroots level.
• To encourage new environmental thinking, perspectives and research challenging the status quo and see new ways of imagining solutions.
• To help build, create and catalyze networks.
• To encourage production and dissemination of knowledge products that moves the field of environmental justice.
• To bridge the gap between commitment and resources.
• To raise cross over awareness about issues and concepts of environmental justice.
• To promote public participation in environmental decision making through information dissemination and utilizing available legal spaces
• To develop interface with donors and awardees.
• To mobilise and channel larger resources towards environmental justices