Julian Agyeman

Julian Agyeman is a Professor of Urban and Environmental Policy and Planning at Tufts University, Medford, MA. He is the originator of the concept of ‘just sustainability’ the full integration of social justice and sustainability, defined as ‘the need to ensure a better quality of life for all, now and into the future, in a just and equitable manner, whilst living within the limits of supporting ecosystems.’

He is an environmental social scientist with degrees in botany, geography, conservation policy and environmental education whose expertise and current research interests are in the complex and embedded relations between humans and the environment, whether mediated by institutions or social movement organizations, and the effects of this on public policy and planning processes and outcomes, particularly in relation to notions of justice and equity. He is co-founder, and editor of the international journal ‘Local Environment: The International Journal of Justice and Sustainability.’ Tandfonline.com With over 150 publications, his books include ‘Just Sustainabilities: Development in an Unequal World’ (MIT Press 2003); ‘Sustainable Communities and the Challenge of Environmental Justice’ (NYU Press 2005, ‘Environmental Inequalities Beyond Borders: Local Perspectives on Global Injustices’ (MIT Press 2011) ‘Cultivating Food Justice : Race, Class and Sustainability’ (MIT Press 2011) and Introducing Just Sustainabilities: Policy, Planning and Practice (Zed Books 2013).

He was founder in 1988 of Britain’s Black Environment Network (BEN) and is currently a member of the Advisory Board of theCenter for Diversity and the Environment (2009); the Board of Directors of The Massachusetts Audubon Society (2009-) and the is on several journal editorial boards.