What Is Environmental Justice?
Environmental justice refers to the effort to ensure that people with lower incomes and BIPOC communities aren't disproportionately harmed by pollution and other environmental threats. There's a long history of undesirable facilities (think landfills, trash incinerators, or coal plants) being built where people have the least power—all too often communities with low incomes or largely BIPOC.
Clean water, clean air, and a safe environment are rights we all share.
Forty Years of Environmental Justice: Where is the Justice?
In May 2022, an article by CBF Vice President of Litigation Jon Mueller and Environmental Justice Staff Attorney Taylor Lilley was published in the Public Interest Law Review. "Forty Years of Environmental Justice: Where is the Justice?" examines the history of environmental justice (or EJ) primarily through the lens of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the White House, and evaluates the progress made in terms of regulations and permitting. It also examines recent administrative and judicial decisions addressing EJ claims and, in conclusion, provides recommendations for ways in which EJ issues can be better presented and addressed. Read the article
Here are a few of the ways CBF is working to ensure that everyone has equal access to clean water, clean air, and a safe environment.
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Environmental Justice, More Than Just A Check Mark
"Environmental justice is not merely a box to be checked," wrote Judge Stephanie Thacker in her opinion striking down a permit for a proposed natural gas compressor station in the historic, predominantly African American community of Union Hill in Buckingham County, Virginia.
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Enhancing the Environmental Justice Policy in Pennsylvania
The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) released a draft update of its Environmental Justice Policy. Among other things, the policy addresses how DEP will consider the impacts of its decisions on people living in lower income and BIPOC communities, the permit review process, how EJ can be included in the state's climate action plan, and more.
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Greening Southside Richmond
00:04:07In formerly redlined neighborhoods, community groups and CBF are planting trees at sites suffering from extreme heat linked to racially-motivated housing discrimination that occurred decades ago.
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Formerly Redlined Areas of Richmond Are Going Green
Excessive heat, discriminative housing practices, and trees are three things that may not immediately seem connected, but in Richmond, Virginia, their connection is coming to light.
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Clean Water is a Right: Equity and Environmental Justice Around the Bay
August 11, 2020 01:01:11In this webinar, CBF staff and a panel of elected leaders and community advocates offer their perspectives on recent environmental justice victories around the Bay watershed. They also discuss where this critical conversation needs to go in the coming years.
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Environmental Justice in Rural Virginia
July 17, 2020 00:04:28Hear from the people of Charles City County, Virginia, a rural community east of Richmond being targeted for two large new natural gas plants and a pipeline expansion.
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Dirty Air
July 16, 2020
Clean air should be a top priority for EPA. But the agency is ignoring the science yet again, putting human health and water quality at risk by refusing to strengthen standards for particulate matter pollution.
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New Courses Aim to Help Teachers Inspire Environmental, Social Justice Advocacy in Students
July 15, 2020
As part of our Chesapeake Classrooms professional learning program, we're offering a timely new course for teachers focused on the intersection of two of the most important issues we face today—protecting the environment and advancing social justice.
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Trump Administration’s New Rules Subvert Goals of Environmental Review Law
July 15, 2020
CBF denounces the Trump administration for subverting the goals of the National Environmental Policy Act.
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In a Win for the Bay, Atlantic Coast Pipeline Cancelled
July 13, 2020
In a landmark victory for the environment and people across the watershed, earlier this month Dominion Energy and Duke Energy announced they are cancelling the Atlantic Coast Pipeline project
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Environmental Justice Projects Take Hold
June 30, 2020
With CBF's help, residents in low-income sections of three southcentral Pennsylvania cities continued to make the most of opportunities to improve local water quality, reduce flooding, and beautify their neighborhoods.
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Approval of Groundwater Withdrawal Permit Raises Concerns about Drinking Water
June 29, 2020
The Virginia State Water Control Board approved a groundwater withdrawal permit for the proposed Chickahominy Power Station in Charles City County, Virginia.
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CBF and Partners Return to Court to Protect Successful Limits on Toxic Emissions From Power Plants
June 19, 2020
CBF announces its participation in litigation challenging the Trump administration’s unwarranted reversal of the legal foundation for limiting emissions of mercury and other toxic air pollutants from fossil fuel-fired power plants.
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CBF Opposes EPA’s Dangerous Reversal on Mercury and Air Toxics Rule
April 16, 2020
EPA’s finding that it is no longer “appropriate and necessary” to limit toxic air emissions from coal- and oiled-fired power plants is irresponsible and carries dangerous implications not only for the Chesapeake Bay, but for future regulation of all hazardous pollutants.
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Environmental Court Win Comes at Pivotal TIme in Virginia
January 15, 2020
A major court win last week for the people of Union Hill could help move the needle in the right direction for Virginia to meaningfully apply environmental justice.
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Environmental Justice
May 10, 2017 Episode 55 | 00:25.50In this episode, CBF President Will Baker and Litigation Fellow Alayna Chuney discuss the importance of a healthy environment for all.
