Environmental Justice

Definition

Environmental justice is the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people in environmental laws, regulations, and policies, ensuring that no group of people, particularly marginalized communities, bear a disproportionate share of negative environmental impacts. It connects social justice with environmental protection, advocating for the rights of communities to have access to clean air, water, and land, and a say in decisions that affect their environment.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Environmental justice movements gained momentum in the United States during the 1980s as marginalized communities began to mobilize against pollution and environmental degradation in their neighborhoods.
2. The landmark 1982 protests in Warren County, North Carolina, against a hazardous waste landfill are often cited as a significant catalyst for the environmental justice movement.
3. In 1994, President Bill Clinton signed Executive Order 12898, which aimed to address environmental justice in minority and low-income populations by requiring federal agencies to incorporate environmental justice into their decision-making processes.
4. The concept emphasizes that all individuals have the right to a healthy environment and access to natural resources, highlighting the need for equitable distribution of environmental benefits and burdens.
5. Environmental justice advocates often focus on issues such as clean water access, air quality improvement, toxic waste cleanup, and community empowerment in environmental decision-making.

Review Questions

• How do historical events like the Warren County protests shape the understanding of environmental justice today?
  • The Warren County protests in 1982 marked a turning point in the environmental justice movement by highlighting how marginalized communities face disproportionate environmental risks. These events brought national attention to issues of race, class, and environmental degradation, shaping current discussions about equity in environmental policy. As a result, today's understanding emphasizes the need for inclusive decision-making processes that ensure vulnerable communities are heard and prioritized in discussions about environmental hazards.
• Discuss how executive actions like Executive Order 12898 contribute to the advancement of environmental justice in government policy.
  • Executive Order 12898 was significant because it directed federal agencies to consider the impacts of their actions on minority and low-income populations. This policy framework promotes accountability by requiring agencies to identify and address any disproportionately negative effects on these communities. By integrating environmental justice into federal decision-making processes, it paves the way for more equitable distribution of resources and greater community involvement in environmental governance.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of community activism in advancing the goals of environmental justice in contemporary society.
  • Community activism has proven essential in advancing environmental justice by empowering local residents to advocate for their rights and influence policy decisions. Activists organize campaigns that raise awareness about local environmental issues while holding corporations and governments accountable for harmful practices. The effectiveness of these movements can be seen through successful initiatives that have led to cleaner environments, improved regulations, and increased representation for marginalized groups in discussions about sustainability and resource management.

Related terms

Sustainable Development: A development approach that aims to meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs, emphasizing the importance of balancing economic growth with environmental protection.

Environmental Racism: The disproportionate impact of environmental hazards on people of color and low-income communities, resulting from discriminatory policies and practices that place hazardous waste sites, polluting industries, and other environmental hazards near their neighborhoods.

Community Activism: Organized efforts by members of a community to bring about social change or address local issues, often focusing on environmental concerns and advocating for the rights and well-being of community members.