Environmental Justice and Early Actions

Overview of Environmental Justice and Early Actions

• African American neighborhoods in Houston were often chosen for toxic waste sites
• Over 15 million African Americans, 8 million Latinos, and half of all Asian/Pacific Islanders and Native Americans resided in communities with at least one abandoned or uncontrolled toxic waste site
• Environmental Justice (EJ) is defined as the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people with respect to environmental laws, regulations, and policies
• EJ aims for equal access to environmental protection and decision-making processes
• The definition of EJ misses nuances between equality and equity and erases the identities and experiences of those facing EJ concerns
• Environmental Injustice occurs when some groups suffer more harms and risks due to another group seeking benefits
• EJ communities prioritize sustainable development, decent jobs, quality education, housing, and healthcare, democratic decision-making, and safety
• EJ encompasses protection of environmental, health, employment, education, housing, transportation, and civil rights laws
• The first National People of Color Environmental Leadership Summit broadened the EJ movement beyond anti-toxic chemical stances
• In 1992, EPA's Office of Environmental Justice was created to integrate EJ into EPA policies and provide technical and financial assistance
• In 1994, President Clinton signed the Federal Actions to Address Environmental Justice in Minority Populations and Low-Income Populations, which provided federal actions to address EJ concerns and highlighted the disproportionate burden of pollution on low-income communities and communities of color
• The SouthWest Organizing Project (SWOP) and Indigenous Environmental Network were founded to empower communities and protect their sacred sites, natural resources, and health.