Key Terms
A framework in which everyone—regardless of race, color, national origin, or income—has the right to the same environmental protections and benefits, as well as meaningful involvement in the policies that shape their communities.
What is Environmental Justice
A person’s ____ is a key indicator of their health and well-being, with those in marginalized areas disproportionately experiencing environmental hazards and preventable diseases.
Latinx/e Americans are exposed to 63% more pollution than they ____.
What is produce
Environmental Racism only affects communities in the United States
False - Environmental racism occurs worldwide, disproportionately impacting marginalized communities globally
The practice of dividing land into areas to govern how the land is used and developed
What is Zoning
Addressing environmental, health, economic, and racial disparities is a central goal of the ______
What is the Environmental Justice Movement
This form of pollution disproportionately affects low-income communities located near freeways and industrial areas
What is Air Pollution
Toxic facilities are disproportionately found in the poorest and least white communities
True
A form of systemic racism, disproportionately exposes communities of color to climate change, pollution, and chemical hazards
What is Environmental Racism
This 1982 protest in North Carolina is considered the birth of the modern environmental justice movement, as a predominantly Black community resisted the state's decision to dump PCB-contaminated soil in their county.
What is the Warren County protest?
Latinx/e Americans 43% more likely to live in areas where this environmental issue will make it difficult to work outside
What are extreme temperatures
All communities have an equal say in decisions about environmental policies that affect them
False - Many marginalized communities face systemic barriers to participating in environmental decision-making.
Often used in environmental justice discussions, this term describes a company’s practice of exaggerating or falsely claiming environmentally friendly policies to mislead the public.
What is greenwashing?
This city's water crisis began in 2014 when officials switched its water source to the Flint River without proper treatment, exposing residents—primarily low-income and Black communities—to lead contamination and other health hazards.
What is Flint?
61% of Black households in the community are located within Eaton fire’s perimeter, primarily due to a history of _____.
What is redlining and housing segregation
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) utilizes environmental justice in its policies and enforcement.
False – While the EPA has taken steps to address environmental justice, it has historically faced criticism for insufficient action and weak enforcement in marginalized communities.
The historic denial of housing services to residents of certain areas, based on their race or ethnicity.
What is Redlining
This 2016 Indigenous-led resistance movement opposed the construction of an oil pipeline near the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation, citing threats to water and sacred lands.
What is the Dakota Access Pipeline Protest?
This percentage of municipal solid waste incinerators are located in BIPOC communities
What is 80%
The impacts of climate change are distributed equally across all socioeconomic groups.
False – Low-income and BIPOC communities face disproportionate climate risks due to factors like inadequate infrastructure, lack of resources for disaster recovery, and higher exposure to environmental hazards.