Can we solve the climate crisis without confronting global inequities?
A recent study in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA found that white residents in the USA produce more climate pollution than black or hispanic residents, but black and hispanic people are exposed to more air pollution.
And that is just the USA! Think about the global inequities in the "haves" and the "have nots".
And how are we going to lift people out of poverty without making the climate crisis even worse?
If you are a resident in a wealthy country, is it your responsibility to address both problems at once? And what would that look like in terms of national and international policy?
Environmental Justice >
Access to recourses
Who gets to live in a safe, healthy neighborhood and who doesn't? Environmental justice research shows that low-income and minority communities often have less access to clean water, clean air, nutritious food, safe housing, and green spaces because of past discriminatory policies like redlining and underinvestment. According to the USDA Forest Service, formerly redlined areas now have much lower tree canopy cover (around 21%) compared to green-rated areas (around 40%), which means redlined communities miss out on tree-related environmental benefits like reduced heat and air pollution. Another news report by the American Heart Association links redlining to limited access to healthy food, which in turn correlates with higher rates of heart disease, diabetes, and obesity in those neighborhoods. Environmental justice focuses on making sure all communities have equal access to environmental resources, but the research shows long-term inequalities. This means these communities receive fewer environmental benefits and more environmental burdens, proving that access to basic environmental resources is still unequal—a core issue in environmental justice.