Environmental Justice

8 Pages 1909 Words

Environmental justice has been broadly defined as “the pursuit of equal justice and equal protection under the law for all environmental statutes and regulations without discrimination based on race, ethnicity, and /or socioeconomic status” and also as one of four related concepts including environmental equity, environmental racism, and environmental classism.

Environmental justice seeks to protect minority and low-income communities from bearing a disproportionate share of pollution. Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits federally funded programs and activities from discriminating on the basis of race, color, or national origin. Because many state programs are delegated by federal law, Title VI complaints have been brought against some state environmental permitting decisions that involve pollution sources near minority and low-income communities.

Environmental racism can be defined as the intentional sitting of hazardous waste sites, landfills, incinerators, and polluting industries in communities inhabited mainly by African-American, Hispanics, Native Americans, Asians, migrant farm workers, and the working poor. Minorities are particularly vulnerable because they are perceived as weak and passive citizens who will not fight back against the poisoning of their neighborhoods in fear that it may jeopardize jobs and economic survival.


Studies

The landmark study, Toxic Wastes and Race in the United States, described the extent of environmental racism and the consequences for those who are victims of polluted environments. The study revealed that:

Race was the most significant variable associated with the location of hazardous waste sites.
The greatest number of commercial hazardous facilities were located in communities with the highest composition of racial and ethnic minorities.
The average minority population in communities with one commercial hazardous waste facility was twice the average minor...