Social Sustainability
Social Equity
Definition
Social equity is the fair and just distribution of resources, opportunities, rights and burdens across a society — encompassing distributive equity (who gets what), procedural equity (who decides and who is heard) and recognitional equity (whose identities and claims are respected). In sustainability it is the normative core of the social pillar: whether environmental policy, corporate practice and development treat people fairly across class, gender, race, generation and geography.
References
This reference provides supporting context for how “Social Equity” is defined and used.
Source imported for editorial provenance.
Overview
How it is used
The concept structures just transition policy, environmental justice screening, distributional impact assessment of policies, and the equity dimensions of ESG and SDG frameworks.
Why it matters
Unfair transitions fail politically and morally; social equity is both the ethical heart of sustainability and a practical condition of its success.