The Geography of Environmental Racism

Environmental racism refers specifically to the racial discrimination in environmental policy-making and enforcement, leading to unequal exposure to environmental hazards for marginalized communities.

The Civil Rights Act of 1964 is a landmark legislation that prohibits discrimination based on race, color, or national origin in various aspects of life, including environmental programs and activities.

Environmental redlining refers to the discriminatory practice of denying environmental benefits or protections to certain areas, often based on racial or socioeconomic factors.

The Toxic Waste and Race Report, published by the United Church of Christ's Commission for Racial Justice, was a groundbreaking study that documented the disproportionate siting of toxic waste facilities in African American and Hispanic communities.

President Bill Clinton signed Executive Order 12898 in 1994, requiring federal agencies to consider environmental justice concerns in their decision-making processes.

The Environmental Justice Movement is a grassroots movement that advocates for environmental equity and the fair distribution of environmental benefits and burdens.

The Stockholm Declaration, adopted in 1972, was the first international agreement to recognize the right to a healthy environment as a fundamental human right.

Gentrification refers to the process of renovating and upgrading a previously rundown area of a city, often leading to an influx of wealthier residents and businesses and the displacement of existing low-income residents.

Houston, Texas, has been a prominent city in the environmental justice movement, with a history of activism against environmental racism and the disproportionate siting of polluting facilities in minority neighborhoods.

Environmental racism refers to the intentional siting of polluting facilities in areas where marginalized communities reside, leading to disproportionate exposure to environmental hazards.

Louisiana has the highest number of Superfund sites in the United States, with many located in predominantly African American and low-income communities.

Highway racism refers to the disproportionate siting of highways and major roads through or near communities of color, leading to increased air pollution and other health risks.

Flint, Michigan, has gained national attention due to its water crisis, which exposed residents, particularly African American residents, to lead-contaminated water.

Rural environmental racism refers to the disproportionate siting of polluting facilities in rural areas, often impacting Indigenous communities and communities of color, leading to environmental health disparities.

The Rio Declaration on Environment and Development, adopted in 1992, emphasizes the importance of environmental justice and the need to address the disproportionate environmental burdens faced by marginalized communities.