Category: Environmental Justice

Environmental Justice: A National Perspective

Research and Graphics by Saran Toure ‘22

Edited by Wesley Wiggins ‘21

The previous post discussed environmental justice through the lens of local New Jersey policy. This post zooms out to look at how the United States government and other national organizations have addressed Environmental Justice (EJ) issues. The two main pieces of federal legislation addressing EJ are the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and Executive Order (E.O.) 12898

NEPA was signed into law on January 1st, 1970, and requires agencies to go through an evaluation process to determine the environmental, social, and economic impacts of their actions and involve affected communities in the evaluation2. This act specifically calls for the federal government to prepare Environmental Impact Statements (EIS) and Environmental Assessments (EA) which look at federal legislation and projects to evaluate the environmental impacts and potential alternatives and solutions to harmful impacts. Citizens can participate in these assessments during the scoping process through public meetings, workshops, hearings, and other means1.

This act is bolstered by E.O. 12898 which was ordered by former President Bill Clinton on February 16th, 1994. This act is also addressed as “Federal Actions to Address Environmental Justice in Minority Populations and Low-Income Populations”5. The purpose of the executive order was to focus more attention on environmental and health conditions that resulted from federal actions to ensure a safe and healthy environment for all communities. This order directs federal agencies to make a plan to address environmental injustice, promote non-discrimination in federal health and environmental programs, and provide information and participation opportunities to low-income and marginalized communities5.

Though these policies have done a lot for communities since they have been enacted4, there is still a lot more work that can be done on the national level to improve conditions for communities affected by environmental racism. There is also a lot that can be done by individuals to hold the government accountable like learning about the environmental impacts of federal agencies, participating in the NEPA process for your community, and voting in local and federal elections to protect and improve laws. Additionally, you can support national environmental justice agencies like Earth Justice6 and Protect NEPA4.

Sources:

  1. “How Citizens Can Comment and Participate in the National Environmental Policy Act Process.” EPA. Environmental Protection Agency. February 6, 2017. https://www.epa.gov/nepa/how-citizens-can-comment-and-participate-national-environmental-policy-act-process
  2. “What is the National Environmental Policy Act?” EPA. Environmental Protection Agency. September 17, 2020. https://www.epa.gov/nepa/what-national-environmental-policy-act
  3. “Environmental Justice Timeline.” EPA. Environmental Protection Agency. June 2, 2017. https://www.epa.gov/environmentaljustice/environmental-justice-timeline
  4. “Environmental Justice” Protect NEPA. Accessed November 28, 2020. https://protectnepa.org/environmental-justice/
  5. “Summary of Executive Order 12898 – Federal Actions to Address Environmental Justice in Minority Populations and Low-Income Populations.” EPA. Environmental Protection Agency. July 23, 2020. https://www.epa.gov/laws-regulations/summary-executive-order-12898-federal-actions-address-environmental-justice
  6. “The Trump Administration Wants to Undo the People’s Environmental Law.” Earthjustice. August 31, 2020. https://earthjustice.org/features/nepa

Environmental Justice: Starting Locally in New Jersey

Research and Graphics by Lazarena Lazarova ‘21

Edited by Christopher Lugo ‘22

Environmental Justice (EJ) has come to be understood as a fundamental component of any comprehensive response to the environmental challenges of our contemporary moment. With the Black Lives Matter protests of 2020, it has been foregrounded in conversations about racial justice and other issues around which activists center their work. New Jersey, in particular, has become one of the first state governments to address the needs of marginalized communities and implement environmental justice through legislation.

Before diving in, let’s touch briefly on the concept of environmental justice. What is it exactly, and how can we practice it? According to Green Action for Health and Environmental Justice, a multiracial grassroots organization, EJ is defined as “the values, rules, regulations, behaviors, policies, and decisions that support sustainability, where all people can hold with confidence that their community and natural environment is safe and productive”1.

New Jersey has taken promising but preliminary steps towards realizing that goal. One bill that was passed by the legislature into New Jersey state law on August 27, 2020 expands the purview of the Department of Environmental Protection. The effects of any proposed projects seeking a permit from the department on “overburdened communities” would have to be considered before the project could go forward. The bill defines “overburdened communities” as those with at least 50% of residents being low-income and 40% of residents being racial minorities or having limited English proficiency. Power plants and waste facilities like landfills and sewage treatment plants would have to reckon with the impact they impose on nearby overburdened communities. New Jersey Environmental Justice Alliance has expressed support for the bill2,3.

In addition to this most recent effort, the legislature has passed reforms to the state’s learning standards, requiring all students to learn about climate change and the science behind it. There is hope that a more robust education in climate science will raise a generation of leaders and organizers who are both well-informed on the issue of climate change and acknowledge the urgency with which it must be addressed4. There is plenty our generation can do here and now, too. Volunteer with organizations like the Environmental Justice Alliance, lobby your local government to research and implement a climate action plan, and educate yourself on the links between racial justice and environmental justice. 

Sources:

  1. “Environmental Justice & Environmental Racism”. Green Action for Health and Environmental Justice. http://greenaction.org/what-is-environmental-justice/ 
  2. Warren, Michael Sol.“Landmark bill to protect poor communities from pollution just passed N.J. Legislature”. Nj.com – True New Jersey. August 28, 2020. https://www.nj.com/news/2020/08/landmark-bill-to-protect-poor-communities-from-pollution-just-passed-nj-legislature.html 
  3. Warren, Michael Sol and Brent Johnson. “Murphy backs plan to protect N.J. low-income communities from more pollution”. Nj.com – True New Jersey. June 19, 2020. https://www.nj.com/politics/2020/06/murphy-backs-plan-to-protect-nj-low-income-communities-from-more-pollution.html 
  4. White, Kimberly. “New Jersey Becomes First U.S. State to Require Schools to Teach Climate Change”. Planetary Press. June 17, 2020. https://www.theplanetarypress.com/2020/06/new-jersey-becomes-first-u-s-state-to-require-schools-to-teach-climate-change/#:~:text=The%20newly%20adopted%20guidelines%20make,educators%20over%20the%20past%20year