environmental justice
Fair pollution distribution
Environmental justice is the principle that all people—regardless of race, income, or geography—deserve equal protection from environmental hazards and equal access to environmental benefits.
The term arose from observations that pollution sources, toxic waste sites, and other hazards cluster disproportionately in poor and minority communities: Environmental justice advocates fought the proposed landfill.
The framework connects civil rights with environmental policy.
Measurable difference between things
- marginalizedPushed to society's edges
- underservedInsufficiently provided for
- redliningRefusing loans by neighborhood
- gentrificationWealthy influx displacing locals
discrimination · racism · classism · indigenous rights · reparations · climate refugees · displacement · land rights
Public expression of disapproval
- advocacyPleading for a cause
- grassrootsCommon people as political base
- campaignOrganized effort toward goal
- demonstrationPublic display of opinion
march · rally · petition · civil disobedience · community organizing · coalition building · boycott · lobbying
Pollution level measurement
- lead poisoningToxic heavy metal accumulation
- asthmaChronic lung inflammation
- contaminated waterImpure liquid with pathogens
- toxic wasteDangerous industrial refuse
cancer clusters · respiratory illness · industrial pollution · brownfields · Superfund · chemical plants · incinerators · landfills
Official enactment of statutes
- regulationOfficial rules governing conduct
- enforcementCompelling compliance with rules
- EPAFederal environmental regulator
- permittingGiving consent or authorization
zoning · land use · compliance · litigation · consent decrees · public comment · precautionary principle · accountability
Self-replenishing natural power
- green jobsSustainability-focused employment
- solarOf the star
- windAir current outdoors
- climate resilienceAbility to withstand environmental shifts
urban farming · sustainable development · weatherization · community gardens · green spaces · walkability
disparity
Measurable difference between things
- marginalizedPushed to society's edges
- underservedInsufficiently provided for
- redliningRefusing loans by neighborhood
gentrification · discrimination · racism · classism · indigenous rights · reparations · climate refugees · displacement · land rights · tribal sovereignty
protest
Public expression of disapproval
- advocacyPleading for a cause
- grassrootsCommon people as political base
- campaignOrganized effort toward goal
demonstration · march · rally · petition · civil disobedience · community organizing · coalition building · boycott · lobbying · direct action
air quality
Pollution level measurement
- lead poisoningToxic heavy metal accumulation
- asthmaChronic lung inflammation
- contaminated waterImpure liquid with pathogens
toxic waste · cancer clusters · respiratory illness · industrial pollution · brownfields · Superfund · chemical plants · incinerators · landfills · refineries
legislation
Official enactment of statutes
- regulationOfficial rules governing conduct
- enforcementCompelling compliance with rules
- EPAFederal environmental regulator
permitting · zoning · land use · compliance · litigation · consent decrees · public comment · precautionary principle · accountability · transparency
renewable energy
Self-replenishing natural power
- green jobsSustainability-focused employment
- solarOf the star
- windAir current outdoors
climate resilience · urban farming · sustainable development · weatherization · community gardens · green spaces · walkability
- environmentalismecology, conservationism, recycling bins, campaigner, conservationist
- Environmental Healthair pollution, water pollution, toxic exposure, hazardous waste, emissions
- Environmental Policyclimate policy, Clean Air Act, conservation policy, Clean Water Act, emissions standards
- Faith Activismsocial gospel, interfaith dialogue, Christian socialism, sanctuary movement, abolitionism
- green politicsgreen politics, green parties, green movement, climate activism, eco-activism
- nature writingnature writing, Walden, nature poems, wilderness, nature journal
environmental justiceenvironmental racism
Disproportionate pollution burden on minorities
justice, adjust, environment, unjust, injustice, environmental, readjust, environments, environmentalist