Environmental justice is the term for rectifying the disproportionate burden of environmental hazards on certain groups of people, especially low-income ones. The pollution generated from all the stuff we create and throw away, electricity, travel, and other hazards from fossil fuels and industrial processes negatively impacts all of us, but it tends to harm those with less power and resources to shield themselves the most. That is simply not fair. The first step is to become aware of the issue to ensure progress for everyone.

What are examples of environmental justice issues?

A key one is the placement of polluting industry, mining, and waste management businesses that expose people to toxins. The decision of where these nasty places go tends to be made by more powerful people at the expense of others. The companies could reduce the amount of pollution they create, but that costs more, so passing that pollution on to those who cannot stop it from happening is more profitable. Naturally, it is rare for the company owners or leaders to actually live near where these businesses do their dirty work.

Also, lower-income areas tend to be less walkable, have fewer biking lanes, fewer buses and trains, and fewer green spaces and trees. That adds up to more gas cars and greater air pollution for kids and adults alike to breathe in, negatively impacting health and quality of life.

Our global supply chains also tend to export pollution to lower-income countries. The environmental degradation and poor health effects that go along with creating all the stuff we consume can fall on the countries where the manufacturing happens. That is where the forests get raised, the mining happens, and the chemicals get mixed so that the finished product can be shipped to higher-income consumers.

In broader terms, another environmental justice issue is how countries in the Global South are more likely to experience the most extreme impacts of climate change and have fewer resources to adapt to it. On the other hand, wealthier countries in the Global North have emitted the majority of global carbon pollution.

As the movement for a better-shared world grows, it is important to recognize these imbalances and take advantage of people. The voices of those who have not traditionally had the power or money to be heard need to be amplified. Pushing the mess onto others is not solving anything, and eventually, the mess comes back around.