Environmental justice at its core


According to the Environmental Protection Agency, environmental justice is the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, gender, national origin, or income, with respect to the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies. In other words, environmental justice means that all people should be treated equally even with the brunt of environmental degradation. Environmental racism however was the root cause for the coining of the term "environmental justice". Environmental racism is when certain people, many BIPOC or (Black Indigeneous People Of Color),  face the impacts of environmental degradation disproportionately. Here is an example of environmental racism from Microsoft News: an estimated 70% of contaminated waste sites are located in low-income neighborhoods, and an upwards of 2 million Americans live within a mile of sites that are vulnerable to flooding — the majority of which are in Black and brown communities. I have even personally viewed environmental racism in the state of North Carolina. The wood pellet company, Enviva Biomass, has a factory in Northampton County that is located in a disproportionately black and brown community.

There are many more examples of environmental racism that are probably all around you. It is simply a matter of noticing. This is another reason why advocating for environmental justice is so important; many people are unaware it is all around them.

Below are some resources to continue to learn more about climate justice and take action:
A focus on US Climate Justice Policy
Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy
Climate Justice United Nations
NRDC: The Environmental Justice Movement


From Banks and Tanks to Cooperation and Caring (Great Zine!)

There are also two files below to use as resources for climate justice.
Climate Justice Prompt With Tips and Resources for Action
File Size: 227 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File
Environmental Protect Agency Presentation on Environmental Justice
File Size: 1271 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

If you have no, a little, or a lot of time

If you have no time

• Donate and support climate justice movements
• Talk about climate justice with your family
• Always treat everyone, regardless of their identity, equally

If you have a little time

• Attend climate justice events in your local area
• Read a little bit about the issue (this could include the resources above)
• Become a part of growing climate justice networks such as the Power Shift Network
• Educate others about climate justice
• Learn new climate justice vocabulary

If you have A lot of time

• • Get a leadership position in a major climate justice group
• Give speeches on climate justice in your area
• Set up local events relating to climate justice even including BIPOC guest speakers
• Implement climate justice initiatives through your workspace
• Attend the Sierra Student Coalition's, 8-week Climate Justice Academy (I did this, it was very insightful)
• Protest against facilities near black and brown communities