What is environmental justice?

Environmental justice refers to the framework advocating for fair treatment regarding environmental policies, ensuring that no group, particularly marginalized or low-income communities, faces disproportionate environmental burdens or lacks the benefits from environmental resources and policy decisions. This concept recognizes that certain communities often bear the brunt of environmental hazards, such as pollution and climate change impacts, while being excluded from the decision-making processes that affect their lives.

By promoting fair treatment, environmental justice strives to address systemic inequities and ensure equal access to a healthy environment for all, regardless of socioeconomic status, race, or ethnicity. This approach not only emphasizes the equitable distribution of environmental benefits and burdens but also seeks to empower affected communities to have a voice in addressing environmental issues.