Conceptualising Justice

This edited collection critically assesses and furthers the debates surrounding the meaning of ‘justice’ in a world grappling with intersecting ecological crises. In response to the growing urgency of the climate, biodiversity, and pollution crises, scholars across the globe are rethinking how to conceptualise "justice" in relation to human and more-than-human victimhood, harm, repair, and resistance. Within the framework of green criminology, this reimagining often marks a shift away from human- and crime-centred paradigms. This book explores the wide and expanding array of justice frameworks that have emerged in the field, including restorative justice, environmental justice, climate justice, multi-species justice, reparative justice, spatial justice, ecological justice, transitional justice, water justice, and even invertebrate justice, predominantly focusing on perspectives from New Zealand/Aotearoa and Australia. By addressing critical issues such as restorative justice in the context of environmental harm, the evolving landscape of non-human animal rights, the impact of floods and fires exacerbated by climate change, and pressing concerns surrounding water justice, the book provides both a conceptual foundation and practical insights that resonate universally. It speaks to the urgent need for actionable strategies to address environmental harm, making it invaluable for government agencies, non-governmental organizations, and advocacy groups seeking evidence-based solutions.

Rachel Killean is Senior Lecturer at Sydney Law School and the Deputy Director of the Australian Centre for Climate and Environmental Law. 

Mark Hamilton is Senior Lecturer in law and criminology within the Thomas More Law School, Faculty of Law and Business, Australian Catholic University.

Kajsa Lundberg is Research Fellow of Sustainable Consumption and Policy at the RMIT Centre for Urban Research and the TREMS Hub, Australia.