The Truth About Inequity and Environmental Challenges
How communities of color disproportionately bear environmental burdens
The climate change crises threatening the livelihoods of so many Americans, from deadly weather events to rising emissions, are worsening. That means the health and safety of millions are increasingly at risk. However, the threats and impacts of climate change aren’t experienced equally. Systemic oppression of marginalized groups has already left communities of color vulnerable to countless other inequities. And environmental racism is yet another offshoot of an insidious societal problem. The individuals least equipped to defend themselves are the same people who disproportionately bear this country’s greatest environmental burdens.
While it’s easy to see this dynamic at play in major events like the Flint water crisis or the more recent water crisis in Jackson, Mississippi, environmental racism often manifests in subtler and more enduring ways. For example, civil rights era-segregation and redlining forced many communities of color to develop alongside industrial facilities and public infrastructure. As a result, residents in these neighborhoods have faced greater exposure to particulate air emissions and other toxic pollutants.
This proximity to environmental hazards takes a measurable toll on residents over time. A 2018 study by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) found that non-White communities faced a 28% higher health burden compared to the overall population, with Black Americans in particular experiencing an astonishing 54% higher burden.[1] In the case of particulate air emissions, for example, these burdens show up as chronic cardiovascular and respiratory conditions, and can even result in premature death.
As dangerous and devastating as these inequitable environmental conditions can be, the impacts aren’t limited to polluted air, water, and land. For example, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the same diseases caused by airborne emissions doubled as co-morbidities, putting affected individuals at greater risk of suffering hospitalization or death from COVID-19. Consequently, environmental racism can be linked to higher COVID-19 mortality rates among Americans of color. Across the country, for instance, Black people accounted for 14.2% of COVID-19 deaths – higher than Black representation in the country’s overall population (12.6%).[2] As new variants emerge, and the effects of hazardous emissions are left unaddressed, diverse communities will continue to experience unjust losses.
In January 2021, President Biden acknowledged the disparate impacts of climate change on people of color and made commitments to advance environmental justice efforts during his administration. Yet, the Justice40 Initiative he announced – where 40% of the benefits of environmentally-focused federal investments will flow to disadvantaged communities – will not use racial demographics as a factor for determining which communities receive aid. Instead, the White House Council of Environmental Quality (CEQ) has opted for “race-neutral criteria”, such as household income and air quality levels.[3]
Although the criteria selected by CEQ are valid indicators of highly polluted areas, race is the single most significant predictor of whether one lives near environmental hazards.[4] While a colorblind strategy might be effective at reassuring those who might be fearful that certain rural and non-diverse communities will be left out of improvement plans, it fails to properly ensure that funding will make it to the communities that need it most.
Such circumspect approaches to creating environmental equity block leaders of color from helping solve climate change in their communities. This is true even where leaders and staffers of color are involved in the execution of climate policies such as Justice40. As some environmentalists have noted, however, Black- and Indigenous-led groups haven’t been involved with the creation of the administration’s climate policies, including the recent Inflation Reduction Act, which earmarks $40 billion to address climate change. The legislation creates a framework where critical funding may not reach the communities most impacted by climate change.[5] How can these policies accurately reflect the specific problems of these communities if they’ve been excluded from the solutions?
It’s not only about who doesn’t have a seat at the table. Those hoping to affect change from the inside – both in government and in environmental organizations – are facing obstacles, too. For example, many Black staffers have become frustrated by a lack of opportunities for advancement. This inability to move into more impactful roles has led to a mass departure of Black talent known internally as “Blaxit”[6] – an exodus that reflects the trend of underrepresentation within environmental organizations and government agencies, where people of color only account for about 12% of leadership.[7] As it is nearly impossible for somebody to fully understand the needs of a community they don’t personally belong to, diverse perspectives among all levels of green organizations and government agencies are critical to ensuring a better livelihood for communities of color.
The need for environmental equity is evident, but there’s also an equally urgent need for environmental justice. Delivering both will require organizations to diversify their workforce. Put simply, more inclusive problem-solving will lead to culturally relevant solutions that work. Otherwise, communities of color will continue shouldering a disproportionate burden of our environmental crises.
About MobilizeGreen
MobilizeGreen is on a mission to support and develop leaders of color so the environmental movement reflects the communities most impacted by climate change. MobilizeGreen is committed to bringing about change so young people of color can solve the challenges faced by their communities and create a more just and equitable planet for all. In order to address the “diversity leadership gap” in green, MobilizeGreen is on a mission to help develop young people of color into future environmental and green sector leaders. By eliminating barriers and providing access to career opportunities, MobilizeGreen connects emerging professionals to the hands-on work experience, soft skills training, and professional development needed to successfully launch their careers. Through this strategy, we believe underrepresented and communities of color will be equipped to tackle climate change and other environmental issues head-on, promoting a sustainable future for their communities.
[1] Green, Miranda. (February 23, 2018). EPA scientists find Black communities disproportionately hit by pollution. Retrieved from: https://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/375289-epa-scientists-find-emissions-greater-impact-low-income-communities/
[2] Gawthrop, Elisabeth. (August 16, 2022). The color of Coronavirus: COVID-19 deaths by race and ethnicity in the U.S. Retrieved from: https://www.apmresearchlab.org/covid/deaths-by-race
[3] Friedman, Lisa. (February 15, 2022). White House takes aim at environmental racism, but won’t mention race. Retrieved from: https://www.nytimes.com/2022/02/15/climate/biden-environment-race-pollution.html
[4] Covert, Bryce. (February 18, 2016). Race best predicts whether you live near pollution. Retrieved from: https://www.thenation.com/article/archive/race-best-predicts-whether-you-live-near-pollution/
[5] Tong, Scott, et al. (September 05, 2022) Black environmentalists concerned they were 'not at the table' to help craft Biden climate agenda. Retrieved from: https://www.wbur.org/hereandnow/2022/09/05/black-environmentalists-biden
[6] Lippman, Daniel. (May 31, 2022). Biden sees exodus of Black staffers and some frustration among those who remain. Retrieved from: https://www.politico.com/news/2022/05/31/biden-white-house-black-staffers-00035931
[7] Taylor, Dorceta. (July 2014). The state of diversity in environmental organizations. Retrieved from: http://vaipl.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/ExecutiveSummary-Diverse-Green.pdf