What Is Environmental Justice?

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Across the United States and globally, people who live, work and play in the most polluted environments tend to be people of color and the poor. In Allegheny County, studies have shown that low-income communities have much higher levels of air pollution compared to higher-income areas.1
The environmental justice movement was formed by African Americans, Latinos, Asians and Pacific Islanders and Native Americans. It was formed in the 1960s to raise awareness and organize solutions for unequal burdens of environmental hazards in disadvantaged communities.
Environmental justice is defined as the “fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, national origin, or income with respect to the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies” (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency). Fair treatment means that no group of people should bear an uneven share of the negative environmental effects of industry, business or government activities. Meaningful involvement means that people have an opportunity to participate in decisions about activities that may affect their environment and/or health. There is still a lot of work to be done. More information about the environmental justice movement can be found at https://www.nrdc.org/ej/history/hej.asp.
1 Brink L, Benson SM, Marshall LP, Talbott EO. 2012. Environmental Inequality, Adverse Birth Outcomes, and Exposure to Ambient Air Pollution in Allegheny County, PA, USA. J Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities 1:157-162.

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