Introduction
Environmental justice is key to survival of all citizens. Equal distribution of resources promotes peaceful co-existence among citizens. It is critical to the development of a country. As environmental problems move from the interior toward the periphery of global economic systems, environmental injustices have come up, particularly in urban areas (Morales Jr, Grineski and Collins 2).
This paper discuses the meaning of environmental justice, especially in urban situations. It draws on the history of the term, the affected groups, the 2012 Strategic Plan, and the role of the Civil Rights Movement, among other aspects.
Meaning of the term environmental justice
The term is applied in two different aspects. First, it is used to describe a fair treatment among people, regardless of color, descent, economic status, and social status with regard to implementation of environmental rules and regulations (Morales Jr et al. 4). Second, it connotes a lobby group that concentrates on fair sharing of ecological benefits and troubles.
Morales Jr and colleagues (7) state that proponents of environmental justice argue that minority groups have been subjected to hazardous environments because they have few economic opportunities. According to environmental theorists, the environment encompasses all what surrounds and affects people, including workmates and the natural world (Morales Jr et al. 5).
The concept evaluates the increasing differences in economic, health, and the environment among ethnic groups and socioeconomic groups toward the end of the 20th century and in the beginning of the 21st century (Darby 798). According to Environmental Justice Movement, every citizen is entitled to life, employment, play, acquire education, and worship in a favorable environment (Darby 798). Thus, there was a need to form an association that could develop strategies to support the creation of sustainable African-American societies.
History of environmental justice
The idea of environmental justice has been used since 1980s. It traces its origin from the philosophies of civil rights and environmental movements in the 1960s and 1970s, which aimed at promoting equity and equality among workers in the US (Colten 239). Later, it extended and became an interdisciplinary effort that engaged various groups. For example, communities, governmental agencies, intellectual institutions, and classified sectors (Colten 240).
There are significant events that led to the development of the concept of environmental justice. In the 1960s, the Civil Rights Act was introduced. It prohibited the use of regional funds to discriminate people. The act was vital for environmental laws that were adopted later (Colten 246). In 1970s, there was a campaign that took twenty-four months, which was led by Lois Gibbs in New York. The crusade focused on moving Gibb’s people from a poisonous chemical dump.
In 1980s, there were demonstrations by PCB landfill that drew public interest to the dissipated facilities (Colten 249). This motivated African-American churches and civil rights leaders to start giving opinions about ecological justice. In 1990s, several events took place. For example, the Office of Environmental Equity was created, the First National People of Color Environmental Leadership Summit was held in 1991, and EPA created the National Environmental Justice Advisory Council (Colten 249).
Colten (253) states that, in 2001, there was a memorandum that reaffirmed the EPA’S dedication to environmental justice and advocated for its incorporation into all programs, procedures, and activities that were in consistency with the established environmental laws (Haluza-DeLay and Fernhout 729). Eight years later, the EPA’s new administrator integrated the environmental justice concept in a message to agency’s staff.
Principles of EPA that relate to environmental justice
EPA aimed at considering the composition of the impacted areas to find out whether workers were earning relatively low wages, the conditions of minority groups and/or ethnic people, and whether there could be many effects of the environment on groups of persons (Haluza-DeLay and Fernhout 732). It was to consider important public health and industry data regarding the potential of exposures to environmental hazards in the affected people, and patterns of exposure to ecological threats.
It also aimed at identifying the interrelationships among artistic, past, or occupational impacts of the proposed achievements (Haluza-DeLay and Fernhout 737). In addition, it was to come up with helpful public involvement strategies as well as assure minority communities’ representation in the process. Finally, it encouraged tribes to be represented in all programs.
The relationship between environmental justice and environmental racism
Environmental justice proponents state that there are interrelationships among environmental racism, environmental unfairness, and ecological policy making (Teelucksingh 647). This is because environmental inequality and ecological prejudice have their origins in a political context that is connected with inequity. Therefore, governments should strive to curb favoritism to reduce environmental inequality.
Moreover, environmental impartiality activists argue that state policies target black communities for poisonous dumping and introduction of contaminating industries, creating environmental biases (Teelucksingh 649).
In addition, lawmakers allow and support administrative sanctioning of poisonous and contaminated elements being situated in African-American communities. According to Teelucksingh (649), activists argue that victimized groups are not involved in decision-making organs and law-making bodies, promoting environmental unfairness and ecological discrimination.
It is notable that experiences of environmental prejudices are not individual. This is for the reason that they are experienced by many groups. Activists contend that they concentrate on the causes of environmental inequalities (Teelucksingh 653). The major contribution of ecological unfairness is race, because it dictates policy making process, which is dominated by those in positions of power.
Causes of environmental injustice
To address the causes of environmental inequalities, most environmentalists contend that there are instances when environmental inequality is said to occur. First, they occur when members of marginalized tribes experience discriminations at all levels. This ranges from being exposed to ecological hazards to violations of fundamental human rights (Keil and Young 490).
Second, members of environmental justice movement state that injustices occur when an individual is deprived of benefits, denied access to crucial information, and denied access to natural assets (Keil and Young 492). It is crucial to indicate that environmental fairness plays significant roles in any country.
To promote ecological justice, it would be important to find out and analyze its causes. First, racial discrimination has promoted environmental partiality. Racism involves discrimination whereby people with low incomes and African-American groups are targeted. This form of injustice has been integrated into social institutions in all government organs (Keil and Young 495). Moreover, there are issues that have commoditization of items, such as property, water, and power sources.
More so, government rules and regulations that are discriminative have greatly contributed to ecological unfairness. This is evident in cases where authorities fail to meet societies’ needs related to equalities due to unfavorable power arrangements (Keil and Young 497). In addition, governments have aligned themselves with companies that use power to benefit themselves, worsening the situation of those that are discriminated. It is clear that inadequate resources and lack of control have led to ecological biases (Keil and Young 498).
This is due to the fact that the affected persons lack the capacity to operate as an organized association that would represent their grievances to the right authorities. Finally, the strategy of dealing with the rules that have been set permits weaknesses. This has contributed to the oppression of people that are characterized by low social economic status.
Environmental Justice Policy and Law
It is important to indicate that before the establishment of concepts, such as the environmental justice, the minority communities brought an amendment before municipal government looking for equal treatment (Buckingham and Kulcur 661).
This came to be called the Fourteenth Amendment, and it paved the way for other amendments in the constitution, such as the Civil Rights Act, which was against any form of discrimination. The Civil Rights Act also regulated federal funds to reduce favoritism and promote equitable distribution of resources (Buckingham and Kulcur 663).
The role of the Civil Rights Movement
It is vital to note that the movement aimed at promoting fairness and social equality. First, it advocated for equal protection and an end to color discrimination that was affecting African-American citizens. The Civil Rights Act emphasized that ecological equity was a fundamental right of every citizen (Buckingham and Kulcur 664).
By doing so, the law discouraged persons from engaging in racial discrimination, which was dominant in the federal government. It outlined ways of demonstrating discontentment, such as protests and organization of strikes and boycotts. Second, existing organizations and powerful leaders had their origins in the Civil Rights Movement. Black churches and voluntary unions organized protests to enlighten people about their rights (Buckingham and Kulcur 666).
In addition, some of the laws employed in litigation processes had their origins in the Civil Rights Laws. The Fourteenth Amendment has been used many times to secure marginalized groups’ rights (Buckingham and Kulcur 667). Most of court cases have been solved through the application of the Civil Rights Laws.
The affected groups
According to Buzzelli and colleagues (559), most people who are affected come from poor backgrounds and minority groups. Statistics indicates that twenty percent of people who suffer from negative impacts of waste that are released from the industrial sector are the poor (Buzzelli et al. 562).
Many African-American are affected by cancers due to many companies that operate within the area that they occupy. Indigenous communities have been identified as victims of environmental justice in the mining sector. In fact, miners have depleted water supplies as well as polluted that which remained (“190 Edwin Ave” 3; Buzzelli et al. 565). Poor citizens are exposed to pesticides that impact negatively their health.
The 2012 Environmental Justice Strategic Plan
This was adopted through a memorandum of understanding. It was developed with the help of an environmental justice group that consisted of members from different fields (Haluza-DeLay and Fernhout 739). It is organized in line with six goals, which have broad objectives. It outlines programs that are expected to align with the goals. The plan released its first progress report a week after its formation as per the requirements (Haluza-DeLay and Fernhout 740).
It was tasked with the responsibilities of identifying areas, getting in touch with issues of environmental justice, and starting to implement them immediately. According to reports by various government agencies, it had not been made public, although there were sub-agencies that gave reports to the management board of the strategic plan (Haluza-DeLay and Fernhout 742).
The plan has solved the problem of inequality by providing financial support and technical assistance to the affected groups. In addition, it has promoted equity through the provision of environmental assistance to the affected communities.
The environmental justice initiatives
According to the strategic plan, environmental justice should be incorporated into strategic approaches. Technological and monetary programs should be evaluated on a regular basis. Further, it recommended public involvement, capacity building in societies, and training of its officials (Haluza-DeLay and Fernhout 744). With regard to its objectives, it aimed at promoting accountability, transparency, and empowering communities.
These could result in efficiency and reliability in the plan. These could be achieved through organizing training programs for its officials and citizens. This was evident in the demonstration of dedication to public participation (Morales Jr et al. 6). Nevertheless, it has enhanced the awareness of environmental justice by educating its workers. It outlines the expected measures to be adopted by all programs. It was anticipated that most of the initiatives would be met by 2012.
This was to be done through the provision of training, creation of its webpage and going through employees’ guidebooks and brochures (Morales Jr et al. 9). Another initiative was the introduction of performance metric that was meant to facilitate the participation of minority groups in environmental justice. Each sub-agency could be expected to ensure that the number of those who participated in the programs of USDA rose every year.
In this initiative, the sub-bureaus were expected to investigate the effectiveness of the methods that were employed in programs (Morales Jr et al. 10). This was implemented in April 2012, where particular metrics were used to evaluate whether there was an improvement.
The initiative addressed environmental racism, conformity, and implementation of programs of environmental integrity. The project targeted the development of infrastructure in the affected regions, giving special attention to children’s problems, instructions, food, and public health (Mascarenhas 567).
Another initiative that was adopted by the strategic plan movement was technological and monetary aid to farmers. This task was performed by NRCS, which identified poor counties in states to provide them with more guidance relating to USDA programs. As a result, many farms in many counties were assisted through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (Mascarenhas 568).
The organ entrusted with this task collaborated with individual landowners to protect their natural resources. Education programs were introduced to poor farmers to enlighten them on the applications of new farming methods, how to control pest biologically, and the applications of modern technology in their farms. Green jobs and capacity building was another initiative that was utilized by ecological justice to curb inequality (Haluza-Delay 559).
This was done by offering quality education to enable poor people to compete for jobs that required high qualifications. Collaborations and funding pilot initiatives assisted to fund jobs that could be offered to the youths. Nonetheless, there was the introduction of many field stations in urban areas through mapping to locate natural reserves, composition, functions, and their advantages. Rural outreach was another significant project that environmental justice started.
Its main objective was to reach minority groups that were experiencing inequality and teach them how to utilize available resources in their regions (Haluza-Delay 561). There were other projects that were developed by the strategic plan and served to make the lives of minority groups better (Haluza-Delay 563).
For example, the enforcement team, which was mandated to effectively resolve all problems that were linked to environmental injustices, NEPA, documents that contained options, proposed stakeholders, and directives on convening meetings when citizens can meet them.
Effects of environmental justice
Environmental justice is critical to development of states as aforementioned. It is evident that for a nation to progress, issues of environmental justice need to be addressed effectively (“190 Edwin Ave” 2; Darby 800). It is worth noting that where there is environmental justice, the economy of a state grows steadily. It also promotes equality of all citizens, regardless of gender, color, race, and origin (Darby 804).
In addition, there is respect for human rights. This is because there would be fair treatment for all citizens and authorities would be encouraged to treat all people equally. Environmental justice promotes the dignity of all people. This is the case when citizens are treated and engaged in all programs equally. It has led to equitable distribution of resources in almost all regions. Ecological fairness has promoted democracy (Darby 807).
Conclusion
In conclusion, it would be important to indicate that the term environmental justice has been used differently by different people. It describes an association that aims at promoting fairness and involvement of all people in the affairs of a state. It also implies fair treatment and justice for all people, regardless of race, descent, religion, and socioeconomic status. It has its origin in the 1960s and 1970s from America.
Environmental justice is experienced in social, economic, political, and occupational aspects. Its activists have come up with its principles as well as initiatives. It would be vital to state that the 2012 Strategic Plan helped to curb environmental injustices as well as promoted the dignity of minority communities. It also ensured that all tribes were represented in all programs.
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