Environmental hazards are defined as extreme events or substances in the Earth and its

ecological system that may cause adverse consequences for humans and things they value. These
include geophysical and meteorological phenomena such as earthquakes and droughts.Environmental
hazards like water and air pollution, extreme weather, or chemical exposures can affect human health in
a number of ways, from contributing to chronic diseases like cancer or to acute illnesses like heat
exhaustion.Environmental hazards refer to any potential threat to the environment that can cause harm
to living organisms, ecosystems, or the natural resources of an area. These hazards can be natural, such
as earthquakes, floods, and wildfires, or they can be caused by human activities, such as pollution,
deforestation, and climate change.

Environmental hazards can have serious consequences for both the environment and human health,
and it is important to identify and mitigate these risks to protect the planet and its
inhabitants.Environmental hazards are those hazards that affect biomes or ecosystems. Well known
examples include oil spills, water pollution, slash and burn deforestation, air pollution, ground fissures,
and build-up of atmospheric carbon dioxide. Physical exposure to environmental hazards is usually
involuntary.

Environmental hazards can be categorized in many different ways. One of them is chemical, physical,
biological, and psychological.

Chemical hazards are substances that can cause harm or damage to humans, animals, or the
environment. They can be in the form of solids, liquids, gases, mists, dusts, fumes, and vapors. Exposure
can occur through inhalation, skin absorption, ingestion, or direct contact. Chemical hazards include
substances such as pesticides, solvents, acids, bases, reactive metals, and poisonous gases. Exposure to
these substances can result in health effects such as skin irritation, respiratory problems, organ damage,
neurological effects, and cancer.

Physical hazards are factors within the environment that can harm the body without necessarily
touching it. They include a wide range of environmental factors such as noise, vibration, extreme
temperatures, radiation, and ergonomic hazards. Physical hazards may lead to injuries like burns,
fractures, hearing loss, vision impairment, or other physical harm. They can be present in many work
settings such as construction sites, manufacturing plants, and even office spaces.

Biological hazards, also known as biohazards, are organic substances that pose a threat to the health of
living organisms, primarily humans. This can include medical waste, samples of a microorganism, virus,
or toxin (from a biological source) that can impact human health. Biological hazards can also include
substances harmful to animals. Examples of biological hazards include bacteria, viruses, fungi, other
microorganisms and their associated toxins. They may cause a myriad of diseases, from flu to more
serious and potentially fatal diseases.

Psychological hazards are aspects of work and work environments that can cause psychological harm or
mental ill-health. These include factors such as stress, workplace bullying, fatigue, burnout, and
violence, among others. These hazards can lead to psychological issues like anxiety, depression, and
post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Psychological hazards can exist in any type of workplace, and their
management is a crucial aspect of occupational health and safety.

The residents of Galanos Oaks have a strong claim that ChemCorp's new facility violates their rights
against environmental injustice. Firstly, the proposed facility poses significant environmental hazards to
the community, including air and water pollution, which could harm the health and well-being of the
residents. Secondly, the decision to locate the facility in a predominantly poor community raises
concerns about environmental discrimination, as wealthier communities may have better resources to
resist such developments. Additionally, the potential harm to biodiversity, including threatened and
endangered species, further compounds the injustice of the situation. Overall, ChemCorp's actions
disregard the rights of the residents to a clean and healthy environment, as guaranteed by international
and domestic laws.

A. The residents of Galanos Oaks have a strong claim that ChemCorp’s new facility violates their rights
against environmental injustice due to the following reasons:

DISPROPORTIONATE IMPACT

Disproportionate impact occurs when “the percentage of persons from a particular racial, ethnic,
gender, age or disability group who are directed to a particular service or placement based on an
assessment instrument, method, or procedure is significantly different from the representation of that
group in the. The proposed facility will be built in a predominantly poor community, suggesting
environmental discrimination and a disproportionate burden of environmental hazards on marginalized
populations.

HEALTH RISKS

A health risk is the chance or likelihood that something will harm or otherwise affect your health. Risk
doesn't mean that something bad will definitely happen. It's just a possibility. Several characteristics,
called risk factors, affect whether your health risks are high or low. The production of explosives and
armaments involves the use of hazardous chemicals such as benzene and volatile organic compounds,
which pose significant health risks to the residents, including respiratory problems, cancer, and other
adverse health effects.

AIR AND WATER POLLUTION

Air pollution is the contamination of air due to the presence of substances called pollutants in the
atmosphere that are harmful to the health of humans and other living beings, or cause damage to the
climate or to materials. It is also the contamination of the indoor or outdoor environment either by
chemical, physical, or biological agents that alters the natural features of the atmosphere. There are
many different types of air pollutants, such as gases (including ammonia, carbon monoxide, sulfur
dioxide, nitrous oxides, methane and chlorofluorocarbons), particulates (both organic and inorganic),
and biological molecules. Air pollution can cause diseases, allergies, and even death to humans; it can
also cause harm to other living organisms such as animals and crops, and may damage the natural
environment (for example, climate change, ozone depletion or habitat degradation) or built
environment (for example, acid rain).

Air pollution can be caused by both human activities and natural phenomena. Water pollution, the
release of substances into subsurface groundwater or into lakes, streams, rivers, estuaries, and oceans
to the point that the substances interfere with beneficial use of the water or with the natural
functioning of ecosystems. In addition to the release of substances, such as chemicals, trash, or
microorganisms, water pollution may include the release of energy, in the form of radioactivity or heat,
into bodies of water. The facility will generate air and water pollution, including fugitive emissions of
nitrous oxides and discharge of production effluent into the Great Ruaha River. This pollution will
degrade the local environment and may harm biodiversity and ecosystem services.

VIOLATION TO ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS

An environmental violation is something that violates environmental law or regulation. It could include
for example: improper emissions, the improper treatment of hazardous waste, or the improper dredging
of wetlands. ChemCorp’s activities may violate domestic and international environmental laws
governing pollution control, waste management, and protection of biodiversity, undermining the
residents’ right to a clean and healthy environment.

THREAT TO BIODIVERSITY

The five main threats to biodiversity are habitat loss, pollution, overexploitation, invasive species, and
climate change. Increased mobility and trade has resulted in the introduction of invasive species while
the other threats are direct results of human population growth and resource use. The site hosts a
diverse range of plant species and serves as a roosting spot for migratory birds, some of which are
threatened or endangered. The construction and operation of the facility could disrupt habitats and
threaten the survival of these species.

LACK OF TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY

In that sense, transparency serves to achieve accountability, which means that authorities can be held
responsible for their actions. Without transparency and accountability, trust will be lacking between a
government and those whom it governs. The residents may also argue that ChemCorp’s plans lack
transparency and public participation, denying them the opportunity to voice their concerns and
participate in decision-making processes that affect their environment and well-being.

B. The Galanos Oaks residents have several potential rights and avenues to pursue legal and
administrative remedies for environmental justice in this situation, despite facing significant

difficulties:

RIGHT TO INFORMATION
 The residents have the right to access information about ChemCorp’s plans and their potential
environmental impacts. They can demand transparency from both the company and government
agencies involved in permitting and regulation. Access to information gives you the right by law to
access facts and data concerning the exercise of any public authority, as well as on the use of any public
funds. It often occurs through Right to Information laws (ROI). With Right to Information laws, you will
be legally allowed to obtain any and all information and documents from the government or other
relevant organisations. Right to information is not only a human right, but an essential tool that
empowers you to demand accountability from governments, participate in public life and to fight
corruption through knowledge. Right to information provides essential facts that benefit your life in a
number of ways from human rights to environmental justice.

For example, when human rights violations or major corruption cases occur, you can find out more
about the wrongdoings, trigger investigations and eventually prosecute the corrupt because of
information gained with the help of ROI. If you want to measure your governments’ CO2 emissions and
track its progress toward climate goals, you can do so because of ROI.

In general, it is more difficult to hide abuses of power and other illegal activities when citizens like you
can access key facts and data from governments.

RIGHT TO PARTICIPATE

The residents should be allowed to participate in decision-making processes related to the facility,
including environmental impact assessments, permit hearings, and zoning decisions. However, they may
face barriers such as limited resources and expertise to effectively engage in these processes.

The foundations of the right to participation are shaped by the possibility of any individual to be
involved in decision-making which affects her/his interests. Everyone should be able to participate in
society, to defend her/his interests, to help create a society, which also fulfils her/his interests and
desires. The freedom to vote and stand for elections and the freedoms of association and assembly are
the major political expressions of such participation. These rights form the bases for any representative,
democratic process and active civil society, and ensure that public affairs are truly public. The right to
participation in government is also intricately linked with other rights, such as the right to education and
the right to freedom of conscience and religion.

RIGHT TO LEGAL RESOURCES

The residents can seek legal recourse through litigation to challenge ChemCorp’s activities on grounds
of environmental violations, health risks, and infringement of their rights. However, accessing legal
representation and navigating complex legal procedures can be challenging for disadvantaged
communities. Rights of recourse is when one party enforces another party to accept its legal liabilities
and responsibilities in a contract or something similar. It is the right to have recourse to the responsible
party.
These rights come about when one party in a contract may become subject to a claim or liability from
the fault of another party. The innocent party will be able to pass the liability/claim over to, or receive
reimbursement from, the party at fault.

The reason that rights of recourse are so important is due to the relationship between two parties. If
one party is at fault, they should be liable for their actions and the consequences that may follow them
particularly if the fault involves money. Attempts to remove or limit the rights of recourse typically mean
that one party is seeking to advantage themselves within the agreement by avoiding liabilities or
responsibilities

ENGAGEMENT WITH CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANIZATION

The residents can collaborate with environmental advocacy groups, such as ELAG, to amplify their
voices, access legal support, and mobilize public pressure against ChemCorp’s plans. Collective action
and community organizing can strengthen their advocacy efforts. At the national level, governments
work with civil society organizations to develop and implement their OGP national action plan. Countries
are encouraged to institutionalize a mechanism for ongoing dialogue and collaboration between
government and civil society.

At the international level, OGP is overseen by a Steering Committee composed of representatives of

governments and civil society organizations in equal numbers – a unique model that embodies the goal
of civic participation. OGP’s rotating leadership group also comes from both sectors, with two
government co-chairs and two civil society co-chairs.

Additionally, within OGP, the Independent Civil Society Engagement team (CSE) works to broaden,
strengthen and engage a strong civil society network to participate in OGP, particularly at the national
level. The CSE supports national civil society actors to help them make better use of the OGP process
including the design, implementation and monitoring of OGP action plans for achieving their own
advocacy objectives. Meet the OGP Support Unit Civil Society Engagement staff

INTERNATIONAL ADVOCACY

Given the multinational nature of ChemCorp and the potential export of its products to other countries,
the residents can leverage international human rights and environmental mechanisms to raise
awareness and pressure for accountability. However, this may require extensive networking and
coordination with global advocacy networks.

We monitor and document human rights conditions in countries around the world, and call attention to
those conditions at the United Nations and regional human rights bodies through submitting reports,
making oral and written statements, and directly participating in human rights body meetings and
reviews of treaty compliance. We partner with human rights defenders to conduct fact-finding and
reporting and to increase their capacity to improve laws and policies for better protection of human
rights in their countries through advocacy at the local and national level, and as needed at the United
Nations and other international bodies.

In conclusion, environmental hazards pose a significant threat to the health and well-being of our planet
and its inhabitants. These hazards can have far-reaching effects on ecosystems, biodiversity, and human
health. It is crucial for individuals, communities, governments, and organizations to work together to
identify, mitigate, and prevent environmental hazards to protect our environment and ensure a
sustainable future. By taking proactive measures such as reducing pollution, conserving natural
resources, and promoting sustainable practices, we can help minimize the impact of environmental
hazards and create a healthier and more resilient planet for future generations.