What is environmental justice?

Environmental justice is the idea that everyone has a right to environmental health and protection from environmental hazards, despite their background or race. But why is this so important?

In communities which are largely white and wealthy, more investments into infrastructure are being made. Environmental laws are more likely to be enforced. Polluters are more likely to be held accountable. 

On the other hand, minority and low-income communities are treated as areas where highways can be built, hazardous waste can be dumped, and industrial and warehouse facilities can take root. The natural resources in those areas are more readily destroyed. People living in these communities, elderly and young face various different environmental issues, often all at once. Corporations target these communities simply because it is easier to get away with destroying the land in low-income and minority communities. 

A student walks to school, which is located right next to a power plant. Everyday she inhales the pollution emitting from the plant. In the future she will develop respiratory and cardiovascular issues. She represents the thousands of kids who go through this everyday. 

How does this connect to racial discrimination?

According to nrdc.org, “Corporations, regulatory agencies, and local planning and zoning boards consistently targeted low-income communities of color when siting polluting facilities like landfills…”. These communities are being deliberately being targeted. Further evidence of this was revealed in a study conducted by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) published in 1983. This revealed that three-quarters of the hazardous waste landfill sites in eight southeastern states were located mainly in low-income, Black and Latine communities. This shows a disturbing correlation between toxic waste sites and them being located minority and low-income communities. 

Setbacks

In January 2025, an executive order was signed. This order revoked prior executive orders which had served as the foundations for environmental justice initiatives taken by the federal government. This included President Clinton’s 1994 Executive Order 12898, which required federal agencies to address climate change related impacts minority and low-income populations. In addition, all ten of U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s regional environmental offices have been shut down.

Action Taken

Despite all this, efforts are ongoing to ensure environmental justice for all. There are multiple grassroots groups, such as the Climate Justice Alliance, EarthJustice, and more.

At the end of the day, environmental justice is just another one of the many issues climate change has caused.

Sources:

• https://www.nrdc.org/stories/environmental-justice-movement
• https://www.eli.org/vibrant-environment-blog/whats-left-federal-environmental-justice