So What is Environmental Justice?

Over the past years, you have likely not gone very long without hearing something about the Earth’s declining environmental status whether it impacts your community directly or the world on a larger scale. There is a movement aiming to improve the way society views and responds to environmental decisions throughout the world.

The Environmental Justice Movement has broadened the perspective of the environment going beyond just the conservation and preservation of natural resources. This movement can be defined by its inter-generational, multi-racial and international recognition. In order to fully embody environmental justice, a community should have respectable cultural and biological diversity and equal access to institutions and resources which help them prosper and thrive.

The movement demands a safe and clean community and workplace through the recognition and promotion of different economic, environmental and health issues. Supported by secure jobs, quality schools, adequate healthcare, sustainable housing, democratic decision-making and personal development, environmental justice is focused within the communities.

Due to this targeted improvement, environmental justice offices and activists aim to involve citizens in environmental decisions that affect their communities.

Environmentally neglected, many minority and low income communities have been subjected to endure a larger share of harmful environmental impacts. The movement aims to ensure that people in these communities are involved in making impactful, satisfactory decisions affecting their environments.

In today’s society, it is likely that you have seen the term Environmental Racism mentioned. This is the disproportionate impact of environmental hazards on minority communities. In response, environmental justice directly combats environmental racism.

Just one instance of minority communities being impacted is Pahokee, Florida. This town is known for its sugar cane production. Every year before harvest, the fields are burned and produce something residents refer to as “black snow.” The community, which has a predominantly minority population, is clearly a victim of unsafe environmental laws.

In light of recent events, it is important that we recognize how different environments impact the world around us. Many communities are being targeted as centers of unsafe conditions due to lax environmental policies.

Institutional rules, regulations, policies and corporate and government decisions often target communities with undesirable land uses and a casual enforcement of environmental laws. These communities are often unfairly subjected to toxic and hazardous waste simply based on where they live.

In response, the Environmental Justice Movement brings awareness to racial discrimination within environmental issues. It is imperative that in these times we are aware of a broadened perspective of the environment beyond just preservation.

Our environment is where we live, where we work, where we learn, and we must consider all of these factors when thinking about our communities. Without a plethora of diverse communities, this country would not be where we are today.

The Environmental Justice Movement is an important movement to be aware of in 2020.

To learn how you can get involved in your community, you can visit https://www.epa.gov/environmentaljustice/environmental-justice-your-community.