本研究採取社會建構論（social construction）的觀點，把環境正義運動及其他學者的環境正義研究，當成一個大的個案（casestudy）來加以探討。透過分析環境正義型塑與再塑的過程，探索台灣對此概念繼受的過程。經此分析，我們發現台灣的環境正義繼受了美國環境正義的用語與定義，把「不成比例（不公平）的環境風險分配」看成是環境正義存在與否的指標。也就是說，如果一個社會中的環境損益分配不平均，或是環境風險有向弱勢群體集中的現象，此社會即存在環境不正義的問題。然而，若進一步深究其意涵就會發現，在環境正義這個大的詞語與定義下，本土的運動工作者與美國的運動家們，講的其實不是同樣的「環境正義」。因此，本土學說在與美國理論對話時，常會發生焦點模糊的困擾。作者認為日後台灣的環境正義政策與運動，應當致力於環境正義的本土化之上

This article investigates the concept of environmental justice (EJ) by
tracing its origins, the process of its shaping, reshaping, and its expansion to Taiwan. The idea that environmental policies and campaigns should aim for EJ is a relatively recent one, but it has proven to be widely attractive.Nonetheless, while many people or authorities claim to support the idea of EJ, there are deep and constant problems with the central idea. This research aims to problematize the very process of the construction of EJ research/movement by devising a comparative approach for looking at the adoption of the language of EJ in Taiwanese contexts. This analysis demonstrates that the idea of EJ needs to be “translated” into new political and institutional contexts. This translation is however by no means straightforward; a good deal can be “lost in translation”. As a result, much effort, this research argues, should be made in suiting the measure to local conditions.