Economy Versus Environment: How Corporate Actors Harm Both

Abstract

The reshaping of the planet by people is having significant consequences for the environment and for human communities. Even though the degradation is visible and pervasive, much of the harm inflicted by humans remains outside the realm of and is not addressed by our criminal justice systems. Such harms tend not to be criminalized and while they may be regulated, such regulation has not led to the overall preservation of the environment or to non-humans. Furthermore, weak and uneven environmental regulations across the globe often have not led to local communities enjoying the economic prosperity from which corporations have benefited greatly. We will demonstrate this complex relationship between the economy and the environment by revisiting the closure of Rio Tinto Alcan’s Lynemouth aluminum plant in North East England. Through a literature review and document analysis, we present the past and current socio-economic and environmental contexts of a deprived community entangled in global efforts to protect and improve the environment. Our research reveals a discourse from corporations promoting their social and environmental responsibility in a community that faces socio-economic marginalization and environmental challenges.