Environmental Justice

• By: AWMA
• On: 09/10/2024 16:32:51
• In: EM Articles
• Comments: 0

by John Kinsman and Chris Whitehead

Simply stated, environmental justice (EJ) focuses on improving public engagement processes and reducing environmental and public health impacts in overburdened communities for people of all races and cultures, incomes, educational levels, and languages within these communities.

While EJ has been recognized as a concern for decades, awareness at the local, regional, national, and even international levels has skyrocketed in recent years, with new laws, regulations, tools (screening, sensors) and advanced scientific analyses. EJ is frequently linked to other social and economic matters, as well as sustainability. The need for improved communications between communities, governments, and industry is being prioritized.

This issue addresses all of the above topics in five articles, looking at U.S. federal government activities, perspectives on electric power, and activities at the state level (Michigan, New Jersey, and New York).

In the first article, “Tackling Cumulative Impacts: EPA's Whole-of-Agency Approach” by Nicole Tulve and colleagues across numerous offices of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the authors explain the concept of cumulative impacts—the impacts on health and well-being of the totality and combination of chemical and non-chemical exposures/stressors of all kinds over various timeframes.

Next, in “The Clean Energy Transition and Equity: Impacts and Opportunities,” Brenda Brickhouse of EPRI considers how new developments in energy generation, transmission, and distribution, as well as more efficient and cleaner technologies, can be both beneficial and disproportionately impact communities.

In the third article, “Environmental Justice is Jersey Strong: A National Template” by Sean Moriarty of Archer Public Affairs and Chris Whitehead of Worley, the authors address the groundbreaking 2020 environmental justice law of the state of New Jersey and its implementation by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection.

Next, in “The Future of Environmental Justice: Embracing Transformation and Innovation,” Kareem Scales of Scales Consulting addresses environmental justice actions in Michigan by community groups and state government agencies.

In the final article, “Building a Culture on Environmental Justice in New York City,” author Rebecca Bratspies City University of New York School of Law discusses the New York City (NYC) local laws from 2017 and their implementation as discussed in an April 2024 Environmental Justice NYC Report, a comprehensive analysis of current and historical environmental justice issues across the city, which included a multi-year city-wide investigation into environmental disparities and inequities.

Continue reading the full September 2024 issue of EM.