What is the Environmental Justice Movement?

The Environmental Justice Movement is a social and political movement that seeks to protect communities from environmental hazards due to disparities in their access to resources. This movement started in California in the late 1980s, as many people of color from marginalized, impoverished neighborhoods experienced disproportionately higher health risks due to environmental hazards. The movement calls for equal access to healthy, safe environments and resources, and advocates for the rights of disadvantaged groups to participate in the decision-making processes that affect their lives. This movement puts a spotlight on structural and historical inequities, such as unequal access to resources that cause environmental harms in some communities but not in others. It demands that government and industry ensure that all citizens receive equitable protection from environmental hazards, regardless of their race, gender, or socioeconomic status. This could mean giving all communities the same access to clean air and water, and to green spaces, food security, and renewable energy sources. The Environmental Justice Movement is still working to make sure that the environment is equally clean and healthy, so all people have the chance to live in a safe and healthy world.

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What is the Environmental Justice Movement?

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