Introduction to Environmental Justice

Introduction to Environmental Justice

Lesson Objectives

• Learners will understand the definition of environmental justice

• Learners will understand the core principles of environmental justice
• Learners will understand some key historical background and current issues related to environmental justice

The EPA's Environmental Justice Definition

• The fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, national origin, or income
• With respect to the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies

EJ Will Be Achieved When:

Everyone enjoys the same degree of protection from environmental and health hazards Equal access to the decision‐making process to have a healthy environment in which to live, learn, and work. Equal access to environmental benefits

Environmental Justice Defined

• Common definition beyond the EPA's:
• The right to a safe, healthy, productive, and sustainable environment for all
• Includes ecological, physical, social, political, aesthetic, and economic environments
• Includes the conditions necessary for exercising this right

Environmental Racism

• Actions and decisions that result in the disproportionate exposure of people of color to environmental hazards and environmental health burdens
• Whether by conscious design or institutional neglect

EJ Principles

• Equal distribution of environmental benefits and burdens
• Wealthy white communities should bear a fair share of burden
• Right to safe, clean and healthy environment for all

EJ Principles

• Nothing about us, without us!
• Directly impacted communities must be included
• Regenerative (i.e. equitable, sustainable) economy
• Just transitions

EJ Issues Impacting Communities

Disproportionate pollution burdens on black and brown communities

Safe and sanitary homes and communities

Quality food access

Public facility access

Improvements and programs that address needs of marginalized communities

Public participation and inclusion in the decision-making process

Disproportionate impacts of climate change

Community health resources

Climate Impacts

• Increase in the severity of storms
• Storm severity becomes the norm
• Loss of homes due to rising sea levels
• Direct human impacts
• Destruction — loss of wealth, home, life from severe storms
• Displacement — loss of homes and displaced by wildfires, floods, rising sea levels

Hurricane Harvey

Hurricane Harvey

Public Participation

Fighting for language access for public input in environmental permitting decisions.

EJ & Community Organizing

Warren County

• See pictures of the protests here.

Conclusion: Racial composition of a community is the most significant variable in determining where to site hazardous waste treatment, storage, and disposal facilities.

Important Event:People of Color Environmental Leadership Summit

Executive Order 12898

• Signed in February 1994
• Many civil rights leaders, organizers, and activists were present
• Directed federal agencies to:
• Identify and address disproportionate human health and environmental effects on minority and low-income populations
• Develop a strategy for implementing EJ
• Promote nondiscrimination
• And more

Environmental Justice: An Intergenerational Movement

Environmental Justice: An Intergenerational Movement

​- Hazel Johnson, founder of People for Community Recovery, “mother of EJ” -Cheryl Johnson, current ED of People for Community Recovery, daughter of Hazel Johnson

Click the image above to see the full document

Sources

• Environmental Justice Definitions

• Principles of Environmental Justice

• The Environmental Justice Movement

• NAACP’s Environmental and Climate Justice Page

• Toxic Waste and Race in the US

• Summary of Executive Order 12898 - Federal Actions to Address Environmental Justice in Minority Populations and Low-Income Populations