Environmental justice in Italy: unravelling the socio-demographic disadvantage in contaminated areas

This study examines environmental injustice in Italy through a distributive lens, focusing on contaminated areas designated as Sites of National Interest (SNIs). Using the spatial coincidence method and a composite indicator based on the Mazziotta-Pareto Index, we analyzed 2021 census data to explore the overlap between socio-demographic disadvantage and environmental contamination. By focusing on the legally defined boundaries of SNIs, this research enhances our understanding of how environmental risk intersects with population vulnerability profiles. Our results reveal that SNI areas tend to have higher levels of socio-demographic disadvantage than non-SNI areas, although there is considerable variability across SNIs, reflecting differences in historical, geographical and socio-economic contexts. The components of disadvantage are multifaceted, and no clear, easily interpretable pattern emerges across all SNIs. These findings provide a critical reflection on the theoretical and methodological frameworks used in environmental justice research in Italy. We argue for moving beyond a purely distributive approach to investigate the mechanisms and processes underlying the disproportionate exposure of vulnerable communities to environmental hazards. Additionally, we highlight the importance of complementing national-level studies with localized case studies to better capture the specific dynamics of environmental injustice.