Big Picture

Over 45 million are breathing polluted air and amongst them, Black and Hispanic minorities are still the most disproportionately affected. This is not a coincidence and rather underscores the long-lasting consequences of systemic racism. Individuals from marginalized communities have historically endured perilous environmental circumstances resulting from discriminatory governmental policies, such as redlining.

Although there has been abundant progress in recent years, many still suffer significant health consequences as a result of this historical legacy. Former president Bill Clinton marked a milestone by addressing environmental discrimination when he signed Executive Order 12898 in 1994 – a promise by the U.S. government to focus on aiding minority and low-income groups adversely affected by environmental discrimination. To build on this decision, the Biden administration has adopted the Justice40 initiative, which strives to tackle this issue with tangible action. But is it enough?

Operative Definitions

Environmental Racism: A term coined by Benjamin Chavis in 1993. He defines the term as “racial discrimination in the deliberated [and intentional] targeting of ethnic and minority communities for exposure to toxic and hazardous waste sites and facilities, coupled with the systematic exclusion of minorities in environmental policy making, enforcement, and remediation.”

Marginalized Communities: Groups or communities that have been excluded from or discriminated against within areas of social, economic, educational and cultural life due to their race, religion, gender identity, age and other forms of identity.

Justice40: An initiative spearheaded by President Biden and his team to confront environmental injustice experienced by marginalized communities. It promises to direct 40 percent or more of government funding from environmental projects, such as clean energy or sustainable housing and towards disadvantaged communities.

Hazardous Air Pollutants (HAPs): These are particles of chemicals in the environment that are known to cause cancer and other adverse health effects. The most common include benzene (which is found in gasoline), asbestos, mercury, lead and more. The most common form of exposure is through ingesting contaminated air or consuming contaminated foods and beverages.

Redlining: A discriminatory practice performed by federal and local government officials to directly limit investments based on racial demographics alone. For instance, when the government draws a red line circling a neighborhood, that area will not receive any government investments. Additionally, residents in a redlined neighborhood would be unable to get regular mortgages, credit cards, student loans and other financial services. Redlining has been deemed illegal by courts in the 1968 Fair Housing Act, but its legacy still remains.

Important Facts and Statistics:

1. In a study conducted at Yale in 2022, Hispanic individuals had the highest exposure rates for 10 out of the 14 pollutants studied. African Americans had higher exposure rates than the White population for 13 out of the 14 pollutants studied. White individuals had the lowest exposure rates for 11 out of the 14 pollutants studied.

2. Blacks and Hispanics on average are exposed to pollution 56 percent and 63 percent higher than the pollution caused directly by their consumption. This means they carry a “pollution burden” where they are exposed to more pollution than the amount they produce.

3. There is an 85 mile stretch area in Mississippi nicknamed “Cancer Alley” because the odds of getting cancer are significantly higher than the national average. The cause is from the fossil fuel and petrochemical industry. The average cancer risk in Cancer Alley is 46 people in a million, compared to the national average of 30 in a million people. The population is 60 percent black, and the average income is 40 percent less than the national average.

4. The South Bronx is known as “Asthma Valley” with children being 86 percent more likely to be sensitive to airborne allergens and pollutants than children from other areas.

5. The South Bronx Page 3 Report 13 from the New York State Comptroller’s Office in 2024 states that South Bronx residents mainly consisted of people of color with 64 percent being Hispanic and 31 percent Black.

6. Despite consisting of only 6.5 percent of New York City’s total population, Asthma Valley handles almost one-third of the garbage waste produced in New York. There are hundreds of diesel trucks driving through their neighborhood that release hazardous air pollutants into their community.

7. The Harrisburg-Manchester neighborhood in Houston is home to approximately 98 percent Hispanics. This area also hosts countless oil refineries, chemical plants and hazardous waste sites, releasing nearly 242,000 tons of toxic chemicals annually. Lead was found in the local elementary schools, resulting in their closures.

Four-Point Plan

1. Expanding the Justice40 Initiative

The Justice40 initiative is certainly a step towards the right direction in supporting environmental justice. It is a large-scale initiative involving many governmental agencies. However, an issue with this project is its failure to incorporate, or at least highlight, race as a leading factor in environmental injustice. Instead, the initiative focuses on heavy economic and environmental indicators. Although numbers can accurately highlight poorer environmental areas, they cannot provide context into the systemic and social issues sustaining pollution. For instance, numbers can tell us that most of the people in Cancer Alley are people of color, but they can’t tell us about the housing laws that forced them to stay in impoverished areas. Therefore, Justice40 must begin to focus on and address the role of racism and poor environmental conditions in marginalized communities.

2. Subsidizing Green Spaces for Affected Areas

Neighborhoods with high concentrations of marginalized people tend to lack green spaces. The few green spaces that are present are poorly maintained or too small to support the entire neighborhood. Having the government subsidize more green spaces will allow for better air quality, reduce pollution-related health problems and can also promote better neighborhood cohesion. It can also help support the physical and mental well-being of residents, providing many benefits. 

3. Expanding public services to individuals who live in environmentally disadvantaged areas

The cost of healthcare can be a burden to many Americans. The ones who are most likely to develop health-related issues are also the ones least able to afford help. The government should, therefore, provide free healthcare to those who live in an environmentally disadvantaged area, as they are more likely to develop health-related diseases. This should extend to pharmaceuticals as well, covering medicines, such as an asthma pump, that can help with diseases caused by pollutants.

4. Increasing education on environmental racism and exposing transparency

Many are still oblivious of the legacies that environmental racism and redlining have to this day. Only 22 percent of U.S. adults are aware of the Justice40 initiative’s existence. Increasing conversation and teaching about the historical legacy of environmental racism and redlining will promote more collaboration and discourse about solutions. It will also encourage children residing in environmentally disadvantaged areas to establish awareness of their environment and health. Providing education on this subject will help keep everyone safer and the government accountable.

Why this Initiative is Important

Marginalized communities have faced decades of systemic injustice and this history must be corrected. One way this could be done is by addressing the problem of environmental racism. With climate change exacerbating rapidly, it is again those from marginalized communities who will suffer the consequences most — and are given the least power for change.

Environmental racism reinforces inequalities and marginalizes communities further, creating a bigger divide between groups. Environmental racism hinders economic development by supporting poverty and inefficiency due to health impacts. Through these initiatives, we can bridge the historical disparities between communities by bringing improved health, well-being and security to all areas of the nation.

Acknowledgement: The opinions expressed in this article are those of the individual author.