Environmental Justice – Tigers Go Green

EJ implications of the Earthquake in Turkey and Syria

On February 6th at 4:17 am, destruction hit both the south-central Turkish city of Nurdağı and the Syrian city of Jinderis. Tectonic plates stretching eleven miles underneath this city began moving side by side in opposite directions which, in geological studies, is referred to as a strike-slip fault. The Arabian and Anatolian plates moved past each other and weakened the structural integrity of ten neighboring cities in the area. In the middle of the night, the fault yielded and the crust began to crack, releasing stored energy that was the equivalent of “roughly 8 million tons of TNT.” 23 million people have been directly affected and 7,000 of those residents have been declared deceased. Those near the epicenter of this 7.8 magnitude earthquake stood by in mourning, some of which took shelter in their cars, and waited for the possible aftershock of this already gruesome natural phenomenon. For those unfamiliar, aftershocks commonly take place after the main quake but as time passes and the earth begins to settle, they become increasingly rare. You can think of an aftershock as a reverberation in the earth’s crust as seismic waves (which dissipate the further you are from the epicenter) travel in a curving path due to changes in composition, pressure, and temperature within the layers of the Earth. The most dangerous period after the quake usually takes place within three days of the main shock for inland earthquakes such as the one in Turkey and Syria. For earthquakes occurring in the sea area, they can be seen as much as ten days later.

On February 15th, Sean Kivlehan, assistant professor of Global Health and Population at Harvard, spoke about his Harvard Humanitarian Initiative (HHI) and how shelter remains a huge concern in multiple areas of Syria which was already going through a separate humanitarian crisis. The health system was deemed fragmented and inadequate even prior to the earthquake and the level of aid required only skyrocketed further. The interruption of work and limited/nonexistent access to education force people to relocate to unknown and possibly more dangerous environments. These sensitive events surrounding Turkey and Syria have affected people all over the world and the uncertain future of both the infrastructure and economy leaves many people restless and worried.

As an environment-related blog, we hope to not only inform students about the events occurring all over the world but also emphasize the emotional toll that such events take on a number of us. The devastation ravaged on these Turkish and Syrian cities can be mitigated with more effective enforcement of building code regulations that require infrastructure plans to meet a certain standard before beginning construction. While we cannot change the past, we can learn from these events and require that both politicians and developers in cities all over the world provide an adequate level of diligence when attempting to sign off on plans that may not be up to standard for the area. This post is not meant to dive into the structural reasons of why more buildings than necessary collapsed during this event, but it is important to know that you can also help by focusing on the engineers tasked with building these structures as a way to advocate for environmental justice. For the Turkish and Syrian aid relief specifically, organizations seeking to provide aid should be in correspondence with the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UN OCHA). As always, please visit the links below and/or explore articles on your own to stay informed.

Helpful Links:

The Turkey-Syria earthquake’s humanitarian challenges

https://www.npr.org/2023/02/07/1154913148/turkey-earthquake-fault-lines-syria#:~:text=This%20was%20a%20%22strike%2Dslip,sliding%20past%20the%20Anatolian%20Plate.

https://www.npr.org/2023/02/11/1156305956/earthquake-survivors-in-northern-syria-already-ravaged-by-war-are-unable-to-rece#:~:text=Ghaith%20Alsayed%2FAP-,People%20walk%20past%20collapsed%20buildings%20on%20Thursday%20in%20the%20town,massive%20earthquake%20devastated%20the%20region.

https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2023/02/turkey-earthquake-death-toll-seismic-waves/672978/

Black Women and the Inherent Racism of Redlining

Author: Jayla Cornelius ’23

The textbook definition of redlining is “the discriminatory practice of denying services (typically financial) to residents of certain areas based on their race or ethnicity.” Very commonly in the world of mortgage lending practices and homeownership, people of color are denied loans and renting contracts because of preexisting stereotypes amongst realtors that often deem them as incapable of keeping up with the property and/or making timely payments. This is, at least, what they claimed was their reason behind denying millions of African Americans access to certain neighborhoods across the country. But, as we dig deeper, we can uncover a long history of discriminatory practices that have strategically and effectively pushed Black Americans into certain areas, usually more decrepit ones, and creating a distinctive “red line.”

If we were to dive into historic records and search for obvious instances of redlining, we would have a pretty unsuccessful turnout. The reason why this modern form of segregation has been able to persist for so long is because of its slightly elusive nature. Minority neighborhoods were stigmatized by being labeled as “High Risk” or “Hazardous” from supposedly credible sources like the Home Owners’ Loan Corporation (HOLC) that has created residential security maps of America’s major cities. Appraisers, loan officers, and real estate professionals then use this as evidence to funnel white homeowners into the more affluent, better-kept neighborhoods. Notably, this strategy not only works to keep white homeowners away from minority neighborhoods, but as you begin to associate certain areas with hazard, you begin to label the people as hazardous also.

Because the rabbit hole of bad housing practices is never-ending, I will now focus the rest of this article on specific instances where black women have been such targets of these bad housing practices. Since the 1970s, many real estate agents have taken advantage of the financial barriers and hardships that Black women endure to sell them mortgages on homes with inhabitable conditions. Yolanda, for example, is a homeowner in New Orleans’ predominantly Black 7th Ward who was backed into a corner and forced into a high-interest loan. The area is riddled with constant noise from the nearby interstate and higher rates of pollution than the adjacent neighborhoods. Many homes in this area are ladened with leaky roofs, broken pipes, and numerous other health and safety code violations. Climate change has continued to exacerbate this issue as increased rainfall and extreme temperatures will cause things like mold and mildew to fester in already unclean environments. Doris, a homeowner in Chicago, notes that “…so much water came in the basement that my washer and dryer was floating up on the water.”

This practice of selling homes to Black women that are in need of obvious repair is just one way that redlining can expose this demographic to unsafe environmental conditions. Things such as rotten wood and improper ventilation systems can cause various respiratory diseases and related health issues. The government has acknowledged their responsibility to help people suffering from housing discrimination but even this aid is “uneven and hard to obtain.” Through these findings and interviews from local residents such as Yolanda and Doris, we can recognize the disrepair of homes in certain areas as environmental racism that must be addressed in our environmental justice efforts.

This article’s main purpose is not to establish redlining as this new, harmful phenomenon. We have unequivocal proof that it has existed for decades. Our purpose is to keep this issue at the forefront of our minds as we continue the conversation around environmental justice issues. At face value, redlining may not seem to fit into the category of environmental injustices but if we continue putting Black women in homes with bad piping and non-potable water, it becomes an environmental issue. Instances such as the ones described above continue to put the health and safety of communities all over the country at an avoidable risk. Laws such as the 1977 Community Reinvestment Act that sought to combat redlining are still being maneuvered around in more discrete ways. While these elusive behaviors make our environmental justice efforts more difficult, the goal of creating equitable environments for all still remains possible. By engaging with this environmental justice series and keeping this conversation going, you are helping keep this issue at the forefront of this conversation so that, one day, we may all enjoy the feeling of safety and security within our respective communities in Princeton, and beyond.

Example of the original 1938 HOLC “Residential Security” map of Atlanta with color-coded gradation of neighborhoods by risk level. (Image Credit: Mapping Inequality Project, University of Richmond)

Sources:

https://theconversation.com/black-women-endure-legacy-of-racism-in-homeownership-and-making-costly-repairs-190881

HOLC “redlining” maps: The persistent structure of segregation and economic inequality

1977 Anti-redlining Law: https://www.federalreserve.gov/consumerscommunities/files/cra-npr-fr-notice-20220505.pdf

https://www.investopedia.com/terms/r/redlining.asp

Louisiana’s Slavery-Era Cemeteries Halt the Construction of a Petrochemical Facility

By: Jayla Cornelius

During the course of American history, many laws have been passed to help preserve historic sites and prevent large companies from unearthing sacred lands. The 1966 National Historic Preservation Act is an example of environmentalists’ attempts to require land developers to do adequate research and testing before obtaining approval for a construction site. The goals of this act were put into practice when Formosa, a Taiwanese industrial company, was met with swift backlash from community members living on the Buena Vista plantation in northern Louisiana. Residents hope to continue to formulate a political and legal case to prevent this facility’s construction, otherwise known as the “Sunshine Project.” In order to do this, they first had to dive about 200 years into past records to understand what truly took place on this plantation site that kept a long history of slaves in bondage.

Although there were many enslaved women, men, and children kept/kidnapped throughout the history of the United States, this case draws our attention to a particular young child named Rachel who died at the age of 11 in 1832 under unthinkable conditions. Although this is not the focus of this article, I would briefly like to acknowledge the “constant threat of disease, insufficient food, and rampant abuse” that many young children endured throughout all sections of America. Rachel’s name, amongst others, was uncovered fairly recently in a Louisiana archive and helps build the foundation to proving that this chemical facility may not only be of great environmental risk to surrounding residents but may also risk gravesite desecration.

Jane Patton, a campaign manager with a Washington DC organization, quotes that “the spiritual and religious significance of gravesites has been upheld by courts of law in the United States and in other countries over and over again.” Efforts from Jane and other members of grassroots organizations has continued to give voices and humanity back to people who had their identities taken away by slavery.

Fellow lovers of nature may understand me when I say that our environment often tells us all we need to know and speaks to us in various ways. In this case, nature tries to tell us the history of this terrain through various anomalies that might indicate gravesites. One of these anomalies is the clusters of vegetation still seen in otherwise flat and cultivated areas that could be remnants of past magnolia and/or willow trees that were often planted to celebrate the lives of those lost.

Telling the history of this land makes this story more real for people. The potential unearthing of Black residents’ ancestors and the potentially harmful chemicals being released from the site may be enough to halt the construction of yet another chemical plant inconveniently placed in a minority neighborhood. In this environmental justice series, I hope to provide short but coherent glimpses into injustices happening around the country. While I will continue to highlight environmental injustices that have negatively impacted many communities, I believe this story shows the brighter side of what can happen if we remain active on the front end to combat this harmful issue.

There is a long tradition, specifically in the South, of Black leaders doing their own extensive research and investigations to reclaim their land and, with that, their identities. This example in northern Louisiana shows how we as a community can combat the growing dangers of new fossil fuel infrastructure and work to protect any and all “descendants of men and women who were kidnapped from Africa; who survived the Middle Passage; who were transported to a foreign land; and then sold on auction blocks and enslaved.”

Here are some resources for anyone interested in exploring this issue further:

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2022/sep/20/formosa-sunshine-project-louisiana-rachel-buena-vista-plantation-taiwan

https://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/news/article_c58e7f22-3997-11ec-909f-9bdd7461a90c.html

https://www.reuters.com/legal/louisiana-judge-cancels-air-permits-controversial-plastics-plant-2022-09-15/

A Senior Thesis Simplified: Sea-Level Rise on the Eastern Shore of Maryland

Author: Wesley Wiggins ‘21

Sea-level rise is a local phenomenon just as much as it is a global one. While melting ice sheets, mountain glaciers, and the expansion of the oceans all have far-reaching impacts, every coastline will experience sea-level rise differently. I focused my senior independent work for the Department of Geosciences on the effects of sea-level rise in one location in particular: the Chesapeake Bay.

In my senior thesis, titled Sea-Level Rise on the Eastern Shore of Maryland: Vulnerability, Adaptation, Environmental Justice, I analyzed sea level rise data in Cambridge, Maryland, and conducted a survey to understand residents’ experience with rising sea-levels and their adaptation preferences. I chose to study the Eastern Shore because it is an area close to my own home in Washington, DC. Having visited the Bay many times, I’ve seen the beauty of the environments and the wonderful residents. The Eastern Shore is home to a large African American population, a group that is particularly vulnerable to the effects of sea-level rise because of a lack of access to resources, lack of representation in decision-making circles, and historical discrimination.

Map of the Chesapeake Bay with Percentage of African American Population by County; The highlighted counties (Talbot, Dorchester, Wicomico, Somerset) are the counties that I will be focusing on in this study. Adapted from the United States Census Bureau 2010

Sea Level Rise Analysis

From an analysis of local sea-level projections until 2100, I found that the sea level may increase by an average value of 88 cm, relative to mean sea level in 2000, if global temperatures rise 2˚C by the end of the century. If global temperatures rise by 5˚C, then the average sea levels may rise by an average of over 140 cm. Additionally, there is around a 36% probability that sea levels will rise by 1 meter or more in a 2˚C scenario and about 75% probability of this in a 5˚C scenario.

For some historical context, Hurricane Isabel made landfall in Maryland on September 19th, 2003 and caused water levels to rise to 1.26 m. This event flooded almost half of Dorchester County, cut off power to 1.4 million Maryland residents, injured 200 people, and even killed 1 person. The current frequency of a 1.26 m water level rise occurring is 1 in 286 years. By 2100, we will see these events amplified by 2000 in a 2˚C warming scenario with 7 events per year, and amplified by over 8500 in a 5˚C warming scenario, with 30 events per year.

Survey of Residents

In my survey, I asked if residents would support a seawall, a barrier parallel to the shoreline which defends the coast against sea-level hazards, or would rather a relocation program such as managed retreat. The majority of residents supported a seawall, but had mixed feelings towards relocation, with a most opposed to leaving their homes. Community preservation was a big explanation for supporting seawalls, which many saw as a plausible solution when used with other techniques. Some saw managed retreat as the best option while others saw it as a last resort. Others believed that by relocating their homes, their land would be given to more wealthy individuals, which made them unwilling to move. Residents gave many reasons for taking different positions on adaptation efforts, yet many of them are rarely heard by the groups that make decisions. When the voices of the community are not heard, the people that need the most help could actually end up being more hurt than helped by adaptation efforts.

The bar chart demonstrates the survey respondents’ answers (Yes, Maybe, No) to 1) Whether or not they would participate in a government-sponsored voluntary buyout of flood-prone property, and 2) Whether or not they would support the construction of a seawall along the coast.

It is important to remember: How we take action is equally important to or even more important than taking action. The people who make adaptation decisions should change how they operate to accommodate these communities. This could mean increasing the transparency in decision-making process, increasing the consideration of social injustices in long-term adaptation planning, and engaging in participatory planning. Improving these practices can help to decrease the environmental injustices present in the Chesapeake Bay, but we shouldn’t stop there. These practices should be implemented beyond the Chesapeake Bay in order to pursue environmental justice on a global scale.

Looking Toward the Future of Environmental Justice Efforts Within the Princeton Community

Author: Jayla Cornelius ’23

As an ending to this environmental justice series for the semester, it is important that we shine light on the positive things being done and how you all can continue with this forward momentum. Although the history of environmental injustices is grim and its toll on low-income/minority communities has proved detrimental, we can continue showing up for these communities and making a difference. All around the country and world, there will continue to be people in need of our help so that they can be provided with the contaminant-free water, non-toxic air, and clean natural environment that they deserve. One’s socioeconomic status or race should not factor into whether or not they are afforded a clean environment. It should neither impact the decisions of whether large corporations find it admissible to put certain communities in danger. As a collective, we have the privilege of being in a position to mitigate the effects of past environmental injustices and prevent future instances from occurring.

One particular way that students and community members can use their voices to speak out against environmental injustices is to contact their state representatives. States like Arizona, Virginia, Pennsylvania, and plenty more have environmental justice committees that focus on not only the preservation of natural resources but also its outstanding impact on particular communities in the state. By reaching out to representatives and asking questions, we can all become more knowledgeable about the efforts being made and the laws being enacted to help disproportionately disadvantaged communities. Through actions such as cold-calling, sending emails, holding protests, etc. we can make a substantial difference if enough pressure is applied to get some of these proposals approved by the committees. Through these actions and partnering with grassroots organizations with common goals, the Princeton community can do its part and embody the values that make this campus so special. Through service and advocacy, we have already been able to push forward many really important sustainability initiatives, and I am confident we will continue to make positive contributions to surrounding and distanced communities.

Person's Left Hand Holding Green Leaf Plant — Image credit: Alena Koval via pexels.com

To give tangible examples, in the state of New Jersey, there are numerous grassroots organizations and departments such as the New Jersey Environmental Justice Alliance, Clean Water Action, and the Clean Air Council. They all focus on unique aspects of the environmental justice movement to help impact the water quality, air quality, and the quality of life in areas around the state. Many students can get in touch with these organizations to see what ways that can help, whether that be attending cleanup events, cold-calling for increased funding for projects, or simply spreading awareness to other students through social media. There are so many ways we can help out so I hope that everyone leaves this environmental justice series with more knowledge and an eagerness to help in any way that is best for you!

More Resources to get involved:

https://www.nj.gov/dep/ej/action.html

Join the DEP and OEJ mailing lists to stay up-to-date.

Learn the 17 Principles of Environmental Justice.

Learn how to use available environmental justice and air quality tracking tools.

Learn about lead in homes and how to check if your home may be impacted by lead in paint or drinking water.

Environmental Injustice in Milwaukee, Wisconsin – High Lead Poisoning Rates in Children

Author: Jayla Cornelius ’23

Crumbling pipes and tainted water have continued to plague communities of color across the nation. The subsequent lead poisoning that comes with the corrosion of these lead pipes is at the forefront of the conversation around environmental justice issues.

Faucet, Soap, Hand Washing, Fountain, Farm, Water — Image credit: suju-foto via pixabay.com

In places like Milwaukee, Wisconsin, we see the detrimental effects of this lead poisoning. 2018 Wisconsin blood testing data for children under the age of six were collected into a report by the Wisconsin Department of Health Services. The results are alarming; in certain jurisdictions, the percent of children with more than 5 mcg/dL of lead in their blood is as high as 9.5%. This proves to be a significant anomaly from the expected percentage when we look at the many other jurisdictions in Wisconsin with less than 4%.

This disproportionate variation between the lead poisoning of children in different jurisdictions can, of course, have many contributing factors not associated with environmental racism. However, a 2019 study done at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee reported that “the risk of elevated childhood blood lead levels is greatest in majority non-White Milwaukee County neighborhoods with high poverty and low homeownership.” The Milwaukee Common Council is now trying to address the obvious unfair circumstances that put communities of color in a more vulnerable position when it comes to lead exposure. “Not only do we have inequities for risk for children in Milwaukee, but that’s been compounded by a lack of access to services for children whose blood lead levels fall between 5 µg/dL and 20 µg/dL,” Hellen Meier, associate professor at UWM, says. The Coalition on Lead Emergency’s (COLE) chair, Rev. Dennis Jacobsen, says that more efforts are being made to create programs that certify that properties are lead-safe before they are rented out to people, particularly in low-income or BIPOC neighborhoods.

How harmful is lead actually?

Lead is a very harmful poison that has the ability to affect almost every organ in a child’s body. Even when blood lead levels are at the lowest measurable values, the toxin can still compromise the child’s reproductive, neurological, and cardiovascular systems. Depending on the amount and duration of exposure, lead can cause “gastrointestinal disturbances”, such as anorexia, vomiting, and abdominal pain. Lead also has concerning effects on a child’s neurological development. Researchers say that, globally, lead accounts for approximately 10 percent of intellectual disability cases that are categorized to have an unknown origin. A 2009 study also estimated that up to one in four cases of ADHD amongst 8 to 15-year-old children may be attributed to lead poisoning. These statistics make the regulation and mitigation of lead exposure even more pertinent as it shows the serious impact lead has on the physical and neurological development of young children all over the world.

How are we working towards mitigating this issue?

The long-term solution to ending this harmful exposure to lead is to replace the lead pipes that are corroding and causing this neurotoxin to be digested in people’s drinking water. However, the dismantling and replacement of this lead-based pipeline infrastructure would take years and a large budget. The more feasible option is to figure out how much lead is actually coming into people’s homes through tap water so we can find more effective ways to mitigate this issue. This past October of 2020, researchers from the McKelvey School of Engineering at Washington University in St. Louis officially came up with a solution using acid. Senior Elizabeth Johnson and graduate student Weiyi Pan tried many different methods but eventually discovered that slowly passing an acidic solution through a commercial filter would free 100% of the lead captured by that filter. They have come up with the most accurate method to date that would help researchers collect data to see just how much lead would be potentially entering households.

In the conclusion of their research report, the scientists stated that “additional experiments are needed regarding different tap water conditions and PbO2 solids.” They encouraged residents to send their used filters to laboratories so more in-depth data could be taken in a variety of conditions. These field studies would help researchers and utilities select reliable methods for analyzing Pb exposure and corrosion control effectiveness in the pipeline infrastructure. With this new method, we could potentially move one step closer to mitigating the lead exposure amongst young children and lessen the harmful effects it has on their development.

To get involved and for more information visit:

http://coalitiononleademergency.org/

https://city.milwaukee.gov/LeadSafeMKE

https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/lead/clppp-info.htm

Environmental Injustice – Disproportionate Environmental Burdens in Princeton and Trenton

Author: Francesca DiMare ’23

One of the defining features of environmental injustice is that disadvantaged communities often take on a disproportionate share of environmental impacts, despite not being at fault. This unfortunate trend can be seen on a very local level by comparing Trenton and Princeton. Though only a 20-minute drive apart, these two communities have tremendously different levels of privilege and share very different levels of environmental burden. This post will use US Census Data and the EPA’s EJSCREEN – a tool designed to facilitate environmental justice mapping and screening – to explore this trend.

The difference between the number of people of color and the median income in Princeton and Trenton is stark. Some key statistics, including the percentage of Black or African American people, the percent of people of Hispanic or Latino origin, the percent of persons in poverty, and the median family income, have been summarized in the table below.

Princeton and Trenton Demographic Comparison

	Princeton	Trenton
Black or African American, percent	5.7%	49.5%
Hispanic or Latino, percent	7.5%	38.1%
Persons in Poverty, percent	7.8%	28.7%
Median Family Income	$137,672	$35,402

Source: US Census 2019

As seen above, Trenton has more than 8 times a greater Black population than Princeton, and nearly 1/4^th the median family income. Unfortunately, it is communities like Trenton that are low income and underrepresented populations which often face the brunt of negative environmental impacts.

EJSCREEN pools publicly available data to explore the intersection of environmental and demographic indicators. Of the program’s 11 environmental indicators, 5 revealed immediately visible differences between Princeton and Trenton. I generated maps to highlight these differences, which can be viewed in full at the end of the document.

In short, Trenton residents face an increased potential for lead exposure, an increased risk of being exposed to an accidental chemical release, higher levels of diesel particulate matter in the air, increased negative impacts of living near highly trafficked roads, and an increased chance of encountering hazardous waste due to proximity to a hazardous waste treatment facility. Additional information on these environmental indicators can be found in the technical documentation for EJSCREEN.

All of the disproportionate environmental burdens mentioned are associated with adverse health effects, such as increased risks of cancer, cardiovascular disease, neurological damage, and more.

Unfortunately, Princeton University is not guiltless when it comes to this environmental justice issue. The waste we produce across campus is sent to the Trenton area landfill, and our tiger transit buses are stored in Trenton overnight without servicing any communities along the way. In this way, we are directly contributing to the disproportionate environmental burden between Princeton and Trenton. To Princeton students, waste magically disappears after it is thrown down a trash chute or collected by Facilities staff. Unfortunately, this is not the case for the people who live near these landfills and must face all associated environmental and health impacts directly – even when it is not their waste.

As the university rapidly develops and expands, it is becoming increasingly urgent to recognize and address our shortcomings when it comes to environmental justice. We should be supporting and uplifting nearby communities – not standing in their way.

There is undoubtedly a long way to go in tackling the disproportionate environmental impacts faced by underrepresented communities. The Office of Sustainability recently released a draft environmental justice framework, which lays out short- and long-term action items for addressing environmental justice issues. The framework also invites feedback from all members of the campus community. This call to action is a start, but we are only at the beginning of a very long road, and making progress will require many different perspectives.

“Demographic Index” is an average of percent minority and percent low income

The potential for lead paint exposure is based on the number of occupied housing units built before 1960. Elevated blood lead levels are a known public health concern that can cause neurological damage and more.

Closer proximity to Hazardous waste treatment/storage/disposal facilities increases the chances hazardous substances could reach residents through the atmosphere or migrate into groundwater.

Risk Management Plan (RMP) facilities are those required to file risk management plans because of the potential for release of flammable or explosive substances. An accidental release from such a facility puts nearby resident’s health at risk.

Particulate matter from diesel can have adverse health effects if inhaled.

Living near highly trafficked roads is related to an increased risk of various adverse health outcomes due to the release of pollutants and loud noise generation.

Environmental Injustice In Pennsylvania: How the Placement of Power Plants is Affecting Communities of Color

Author: Jayla Cornelius ’23

Sometimes, people may have the misconception that environmental justice communities are determined by socio-economic class rather than race. However, according to data collected by researchers, upper-income (app. $180,000+) Black communities in Pennsylvania are twice as likely to live near an existing power plant than the whitest, lower-income neighborhoods. Additionally, 85 percent of Pennsylvania’s power plants are located in neighborhoods with more low income and Black families than the state median. The fact that these facilities are located in Black communities is not an accident — it derives from centuries of racist policies, and it severely affects the quality of life for individuals in these communities.

Factory, Powerplant, Landscape, Clouds, Dusk, Evening — Image Credit: Randgruppe via pixabay.com

The two counties in Pennsylvania with the largest African American populations, Philadelphia and Pittsburgh’s Allegheny County, have the highest risk of asthma in the state, which is largely due to prolonged exposure to high levels of ozone and particulate matter. Within smaller communities in Philadelphia, African Americans endure some of the highest particulate pollution in the country along with the highest rate of childhood asthma hospitalizations.

Dr. Sharelle Barber, an assistant research professor at Drexel University, confirms the origin of these health disparities noting the “striking racial inequalities, especially for Blacks” that are “rooted in structural racism.” Similar patterns are seen in national statistics because, while majority-Black counties account for only 30 percent of the U.S. population, they were the location of 56 percent of COVID-19 deaths.

The wrongs of environmental injustice against communities of color is a serious issue and must be addressed. The racist placement of these power plants reinforces the notion of infrastructural racism that, in this case, could possibly lead to the premature deaths of many. We must work hard to keep our communities safe and healthy, especially during this difficult time riddled with the COVID-19 global pandemic and social injustice.

There is still hope, however. Local advocates and members of grassroots organizations continue to lobby and push for environmental justice reform. See the links below if you are interested in learning more and getting involved!

https://www.dep.pa.gov/PublicParticipation/OfficeofEnvironmentalJustice/Pages/PA-Environmental-Justice-Areas.aspx

https://stateimpact.npr.org/pennsylvania/tag/environmental-justice/

Environmental Justice Workshop Reflections

Author: Grace Liu ‘23

What comes to mind when you hear Environmental Justice (EJ)? Do you picture images of clean water and green forests? Or do you imagine thriving communities with healthy residents? For me, the notion of EJ was always kind of fuzzy, but I was interested in learning more, so I helped facilitate a week-long wintersession workshop on the topic. Every day we met for a few hours to listen to presentations, discuss in small groups, or work on a group project.

By the end of the workshop, I was able to better grasp the complexity of environmental justice issues, and I wanted to share a few takeaways that I got from the experience.

Environmental justice is a collective issue, which affects all people on a personal level, both directly and indirectly.
While environmental organizations prioritize the natural environment, environmental justice organizations prioritize communities and intersect heavily with social justice movements. As a result, the two can sometimes be in conflict (e.g. carbon offset purchases displacing indigenous populations).
For anyone who wants to get involved, it’s important not to impose solutions since EJ communities have historically been sidelined by “outside help”. The community’s voice must be heard and supported with external resources.
Since most environmental issues are related to environmental justice, it is beneficial to view these issues through an EJ lens. Only in this way can we can consider the complexity of the systems we’ve built and how they affect communities.

For our project, my amazing small group (Jackie Lydon ‘24, Ayame Whitfield ‘21) and I made a tree that symbolized the EJ movement. The roots represent attitudes and motivations, the trunk represents methods and actions, and the leaves represent desired outcomes.

While I’ve barely scratched the surface of these important issues, I think I’ve gained a better understanding of the complexity that goes into environmental decision-making. If you would like to learn more about environmental justice, please check out the Princeton Indigenous Advocacy Coalition (non-indigenous students welcome) or New Jersey Student Climate Advocates (NJSCA).

Environmental Justice: A Look at the World

Research and Graphics by Marissa Mejia ‘23

While previous posts have examined environmental racism on a local and national level, this post will take a look at examples of environmental racism on a global scale, particularly as it pertains to climate colonialism, the Paris Agreement, and carbon offsets. According to sociologist Doreen Martinez, Climate Colonialism is “the domination of less-powerful countries and people through initiatives meant to slow the pace of global warming¹.” As we’ll see below, climate colonialism can manifest in unexpected ways, hidden within policies meant to protect the environment and promote developmental equity.

The Paris agreement has been a key initiative to address climate justice because it acknowledges the impacts of climate change on human rights: the rights of indigenous peoples, migrants, and others in vulnerable situations, the right to development, and the right to intergenerational equity². The Agreement also calls for net reductions in carbon emissions and has catalyzed a significant increase in carbon offsets purchases, which reduce net carbon emissions by funding activities that compensate for greenhouse emissions, such as the deployment of carbon sequestration technology and the planting of trees³. In fact, within the last five years, over two million Certified Emission Reductions (CERs) have been purchased as a result of this international environmental policy⁴.

However, although carbon offsets can effectively reduce net carbon emissions, they actually perpetuate environmental injustice as the majority of the land purchased for carbon offsets is inhabited by indigenous peoples who are evicted by powerful institutions under the Paris Agreement. For example, Norwegian companies buying and conserving forestland for carbon offsets in East Africa have forcefully evicted thousands of Ugandans, Mozambicans, and Tanzanians, exacerbating home, health, and food insecurity¹. This side effect of the Paris Agreement is a distressing example of climate colonialism in action. According to Rosemary Lyster, “Given all of the frailties of the Agreement… the Parties have a long way to go in subsequent negotiations before the imperatives of Climate Justice are satisfied².”

So what can we do to mitigate the perpetuation of inequality through environmental policy? Rather than relying on carbon offsets, we can reduce emissions through personal choices and lifestyle changes. Some examples include reducing meat consumption, using reusables, avoiding flying, buying clothes secondhand, and investing in clean energy. It is also beneficial to support international environmental justice organizations such as Natural Justice and Friends of the Earth⁵. When we see deficiencies in global policy, we should call for accountability at a political level, but we can also counter by enacting change at a personal level.

Sources

1) https://slate.com/technology/2019/03/green-new-deal-climate-colonialism-energy-land.html

2) https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/09644016.2017.1287626?casa_token=6YP6SNXvT6UAAAAA%3AVZoLDpI512YbkZobc1qhAbb5_gyMwCr_mb8TEwwTF9vfaEa8oNXFrdUvPt66sIJWFBpSdtsAi-_r

3) https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/carbon%20offset

4) https://unfccc.int/news/un-carbon-offset-platform-reaches-2-million-cers-milestone

5) .humanrightscareers.com/magazine/20-international-ngos-defending-environmental-rights/