Reflecting on the importance of bridging the gap: Integrating environmental and occupational justice for inclusive well-being

Environmental justice and occupational justice are interconnected frameworks concerned with the structural conditions that shape health, opportunity, and well-being. Injustices can arise when certain populations are disproportionately burdened by environmental hazards such as pollution or are displaced as a result of policy decisions, infrastructural neglect, or development agendas often reflecting broader patterns of systemic inequality. These environmental inequities can lead to occupational deprivation, alienation, and imbalance by constraining individuals’ ability to engage in meaningful and health-promoting occupations. In this article we explore how environmental and occupational justice intersect and argue for an integrated approach to promoting inclusive well-being. Drawing on historical context, theoretical foundations, and policy implications, we highlight the critical role of occupational science in analyzing and responding to these complex challenges. Through an interdisciplinary lens, we consider how structural conditions shape occupational opportunities and conclude that inclusive and sustainable well-being requires addressing both environmental and occupational determinants of justice.