12.7 Environmental justice

Environmental justice addresses the unequal distribution of environmental burdens across communities in the US. Rooted in the civil rights movement, it highlights how marginalized groups often face disproportionate exposure to environmental hazards and limited access to environmental benefits.

The movement emphasizes equity, participation, and precaution in environmental decision-making. It tackles issues like toxic waste siting, pollution, and climate change impacts, recognizing how these intersect with race, class, and gender to create compounded disadvantages for certain communities.

Origins of environmental justice

• Environmental justice emerged as a concept in the United States during the late 20th century, addressing the unequal distribution of environmental burdens and benefits across different communities
• This movement intersects with broader social justice issues in American society, highlighting the interconnectedness of environmental concerns and social equity

Historical context

Top images from around the web for Historical context

• 

  The Civil Rights Movement Continues | HIST 1302: US after 1877 View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  INDEX — Indiana Legal Archive View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  CivilrightsmovementPS203 - Calendar View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  The Civil Rights Movement Continues | HIST 1302: US after 1877 View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  INDEX — Indiana Legal Archive View original

  Is this image relevant?

1 of 3

Top images from around the web for Historical context

• 

  The Civil Rights Movement Continues | HIST 1302: US after 1877 View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  INDEX — Indiana Legal Archive View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  CivilrightsmovementPS203 - Calendar View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  The Civil Rights Movement Continues | HIST 1302: US after 1877 View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  INDEX — Indiana Legal Archive View original

  Is this image relevant?

1 of 3

• Roots in the civil rights movement of the 1960s and 1970s, linking environmental issues with social and racial inequality
• Grew out of recognition that marginalized communities often bear a disproportionate burden of environmental hazards (toxic waste sites, polluting industries)
• Warren County, North Carolina protests in 1982 against a PCB landfill in a predominantly African American community sparked national attention
• United Church of Christ's 1987 report "Toxic Wastes and Race in the United States" provided empirical evidence of environmental racism

Key events and milestones

• 1991 First National People of Color Environmental Leadership Summit established 17 principles of environmental justice
• 1994 President Clinton signed Executive Order 12898, requiring federal agencies to address environmental justice in minority and low-income populations
• 2005 Hurricane Katrina highlighted environmental justice issues in disaster response and recovery
• 2014 Flint water crisis brought national attention to environmental injustice in urban infrastructure and public health

Principles of environmental justice

• Environmental justice principles form the foundation for addressing inequities in environmental protection and resource distribution across American communities
• These principles guide policy-making, community organizing, and corporate practices to ensure fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, national origin, or income

Equity and fairness

• Advocates for equal protection from environmental and health hazards for all communities
• Promotes fair distribution of environmental benefits and burdens across society
• Calls for equitable access to decision-making processes that affect environmental quality
• Emphasizes remediation of existing environmental injustices and prevention of future disparities

Participation and inclusion

• Encourages meaningful involvement of all people in environmental decision-making processes
• Promotes transparency and accessibility of information related to environmental risks and policies
• Supports capacity-building initiatives to empower communities to advocate for their environmental interests
• Emphasizes the importance of local knowledge and experiences in shaping environmental policies

Precautionary principle

• Advocates for preventive action in the face of uncertainty to protect public health and the environment
• Shifts the burden of proof to proponents of potentially harmful activities to demonstrate safety
• Encourages exploration of alternatives to potentially harmful actions
• Promotes public participation in decision-making about risks and their management

Environmental racism

• Environmental racism refers to the disproportionate exposure of people of color to environmental hazards and the systematic exclusion of minority communities from environmental benefits
• This concept highlights how racial discrimination intersects with environmental policy and practice in American society

Definition and examples

• Refers to policies, practices, or directives that differentially affect or disadvantage individuals, groups, or communities based on race or color
• Includes the deliberate targeting of communities of color for toxic waste facilities (Chester, Pennsylvania's cluster of waste treatment plants)
• Manifests in the lack of enforcement of environmental regulations in minority neighborhoods (Louisiana's "Cancer Alley")
• Extends to unequal access to environmental amenities (urban green spaces, clean water sources)

Disproportionate impacts on communities

• Higher rates of asthma and other respiratory diseases in communities near industrial facilities or high-traffic areas
• Increased risk of lead poisoning in children living in older, poorly maintained housing stock
• Greater vulnerability to climate change impacts (heat islands in urban areas, flooding in low-lying communities)
• Limited access to healthy food options in minority neighborhoods (food deserts)

Environmental justice movements

• Environmental justice movements in the United States have played a crucial role in raising awareness about environmental inequities and advocating for change
• These movements often intersect with other social justice causes, reflecting the complex nature of environmental issues in American society

Grassroots activism

• Community-led initiatives focusing on local environmental concerns and their health impacts
• Formation of environmental justice organizations (West Harlem Environmental Action, Southwest Network for Environmental and Economic Justice)
• Use of participatory research methods to document environmental hazards and health effects
• Development of community-based environmental monitoring programs (bucket brigades for air quality testing)

Notable campaigns and protests

• Love Canal controversy (1970s) highlighted hazardous waste issues in residential areas
• Warren County PCB landfill protests (1982) considered the birthplace of the environmental justice movement
• Standing Rock Sioux Tribe's resistance to the Dakota Access Pipeline (2016-2017)
• Flint water crisis activism (2014-ongoing) brought national attention to water quality issues in marginalized communities

Policy and legislation

• Environmental justice policies and legislation in the United States aim to address and prevent environmental inequities across different communities
• These legal frameworks reflect the growing recognition of environmental justice as a critical aspect of American social policy

Executive Order 12898

• Signed by President Clinton in 1994, titled "Federal Actions to Address Environmental Justice in Minority Populations and Low-Income Populations"
• Requires federal agencies to identify and address disproportionately high and adverse human health or environmental effects on minority and low-income populations
• Mandates the creation of environmental justice strategies within federal agencies
• Established the Interagency Working Group on Environmental Justice to coordinate federal efforts

State-level initiatives

• California's SB 535 (2012) requires a portion of cap-and-trade revenue to be invested in disadvantaged communities
• New Jersey's Environmental Justice Law (2020) requires environmental justice impact assessments for certain facilities in overburdened communities
• New York's Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (2019) mandates that disadvantaged communities receive at least 35% of overall benefits from the state's climate programs
• Washington State's Healthy Environment for All (HEAL) Act (2021) incorporates environmental justice into state agency activities

Environmental justice issues

• Environmental justice issues encompass a wide range of environmental and health concerns that disproportionately affect marginalized communities in the United States
• These issues highlight the complex interplay between environmental policy, social inequality, and public health in American society

Toxic waste siting

• Disproportionate placement of hazardous waste facilities in low-income and minority communities
• Increased health risks associated with proximity to toxic waste sites (cancer, birth defects, respiratory issues)
• Challenges in remediation and cleanup of contaminated sites in underserved areas
• Economic impacts on communities hosting toxic waste facilities (property devaluation, stigma)

Air and water pollution

• Higher levels of air pollution in urban areas with large minority populations (particulate matter, ozone)
• Contaminated drinking water sources in rural and low-income communities (lead, agricultural runoff)
• Industrial emissions affecting fence-line communities near factories and refineries
• Cumulative impacts of multiple pollution sources in environmental justice communities

Climate change impacts

• Increased vulnerability of low-income communities to extreme weather events (hurricanes, floods, heat waves)
• Disproportionate effects of sea-level rise on coastal minority communities
• Food insecurity due to climate-related agricultural disruptions in rural areas
• Health impacts of changing disease vectors and air quality in urban heat islands

Intersectionality in environmental justice

• Intersectionality in environmental justice recognizes that multiple forms of social categorization (race, class, gender) interact to create overlapping systems of disadvantage
• This approach helps to understand the complex nature of environmental injustices in American society and informs more comprehensive solutions

Race and socioeconomic status

• Compounded environmental risks for low-income communities of color (higher exposure to pollutants, limited access to healthcare)
• Intersection of racial segregation and poverty in determining exposure to environmental hazards
• Challenges in accessing environmental information and participating in decision-making processes
• Historical patterns of discrimination in housing and land use policies contributing to environmental inequities

Gender and environmental justice

• Disproportionate impacts of environmental degradation on women's health and livelihoods
• Gender-specific vulnerabilities to climate change and natural disasters
• Women's leadership roles in grassroots environmental justice movements
• Intersection of gender, race, and class in shaping experiences of environmental injustice

Environmental justice assessment

• Environmental justice assessment tools and techniques help identify, measure, and address environmental inequities across different communities in the United States
• These methods support evidence-based policy-making and community advocacy in the context of American environmental and social policy

Tools and methodologies

• Environmental Justice Screening and Mapping Tool (EJSCREEN) developed by the EPA to identify potential environmental justice concerns
• CalEnviroScreen used in California to assess cumulative impacts of multiple sources of pollution
• Health Impact Assessments (HIAs) to evaluate the potential health effects of proposed policies or projects
• Environmental justice indices that combine multiple indicators (pollution burden, socioeconomic factors) to rank community vulnerability

Community mapping techniques

• Participatory mapping involving local residents in identifying environmental hazards and assets
• Use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to visualize spatial patterns of environmental injustice
• Crowdsourcing platforms for community-based environmental monitoring and reporting
• Integration of traditional ecological knowledge in mapping indigenous environmental concerns

Corporate responsibility

• Corporate responsibility in environmental justice addresses the role of businesses in creating, perpetuating, or mitigating environmental inequities
• This aspect of environmental justice highlights the complex relationships between industry, communities, and environmental policy in American society

Industry practices vs community interests

• Conflicts arising from industrial facilities located in or near disadvantaged communities
• Corporate lobbying influencing environmental regulations and enforcement
• Community benefit agreements as a tool for negotiating between industry and local residents
• Corporate social responsibility initiatives addressing environmental justice concerns

Green gentrification concerns

• Unintended consequences of environmental improvements leading to displacement of low-income residents
• Tensions between urban sustainability initiatives and affordable housing preservation
• Balancing economic development with community stability in revitalization projects
• Strategies for inclusive green development that benefits existing residents

Global perspectives on environmental justice

• Global perspectives on environmental justice expand the concept beyond national borders, highlighting international dimensions of environmental inequities
• This global view reflects the interconnected nature of environmental issues and their impacts on diverse communities worldwide

North vs South divide

• Disproportionate impacts of climate change on developing countries despite lower historical emissions
• Inequitable distribution of environmental burdens and benefits between developed and developing nations
• Challenges in technology transfer and capacity building for environmental protection in the Global South
• Debates over climate debt and historical responsibility for environmental degradation

Indigenous peoples and land rights

• Struggles for recognition of indigenous land rights and traditional environmental management practices
• Impacts of resource extraction and development projects on indigenous territories
• Role of indigenous knowledge in biodiversity conservation and sustainable resource management
• International legal frameworks protecting indigenous environmental rights (UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples)

Future of environmental justice

• The future of environmental justice in the United States involves addressing emerging challenges and developing innovative strategies to promote equitable environmental protection
• This forward-looking perspective considers how environmental justice principles can be integrated into broader social and environmental policies

Emerging challenges

• Addressing the environmental justice implications of climate change adaptation and mitigation strategies
• Tackling the digital divide in access to environmental information and participation in decision-making
• Managing the environmental justice aspects of the transition to clean energy and green technologies
• Addressing cumulative impacts of multiple environmental stressors in vulnerable communities

Potential solutions and strategies

• Integrating environmental justice considerations into all levels of environmental policy-making and implementation
• Developing community-based participatory research programs to empower local communities
• Strengthening legal frameworks and enforcement mechanisms for environmental justice
• Promoting green job creation and workforce development in environmental justice communities
• Advancing technological innovations for community-based environmental monitoring and reporting