What is Environmental Justice?

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At last night's presidential debate, Kristen Welker of NBC noted that people of color are more likely to live near hazardous toxins, such as chemical plants and oil refineries, that are linked to cancers and other poor health outcomes. The question started conversations on social media about the definition of environmental justice. In this issue, we cover history, examples, and possible solutions to environmental health disparities. 

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Environmental injustice.
Kristen Welker was correct. Black and Brown people in the United States face higher rates of serious health issues caused by environmental pollution. For instance, Black Americans are 75% more likely to live near hazardous wasteThe Atlantic explains the issue in their video “Environmental Racism is the New Jim Crow” and in their article “Trump's EPA Concludes Environmental Racism Is Real.”

Hazel Johnson's legacy. 
Hazel Johnson is known as the Mother of Environmental Justice. Born in the "cancer alley" of Louisiana, when she moved to Chicago she noted similarly high rates of cancer in the Altgeld Garden neighborhood. She learned that her neighborhood was "a toxic donut" of health hazards, including asbestos and decomposing waste. For her advocacy, in 1992, President George H.W. Bush awarded Johnson the President’s Environment and Conservation Challenge medal.

Current examples.
Let's look at Florida: in Pahokee, FL, residents face "black snow," which is a heavy layer of soot from burning sugar fields. Florida's sugar cane farmers are allowed to have controlled burns for farming purposes, but it pollutes the community's air. A study funded by the U.S. Department of Education found that residents who were exposed to pollution from burning sugar fields experienced higher rates of respiratory distress. This is one of many examples of environmental injustice. 

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Hazel Johnson did not have many resources when she started advocating for fair environmental policies. Thanks to her work, the number of organizations at the intersection of environmental protection, health, and justice is growing! 

Learn more. The NAACP maintains a list of national and local organizations, including government agencies, that offer environmental and climate justice resources. 

Support local causes. If you want to support and/or join a local advocacy effort, One Percent for the Planet recommends this list of local organizations that work across a spectrum of environmental and justice issues, including farming and water rights. 

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