What is the Environmental Justice Movement?

The Environmental Justice Movement (EJM) is a social and political movement that seeks to protect communities from environmental health hazards and to ensure equal access to environmental protection laws. It originated in California in the 1980s and has since become a global phenomenon. The primary goal of the EJM is to ensure the fair distribution of the risks and benefits of environmental laws in order to protect those most vulnerable to environmental harm. It does this by advocating for greater legal protections for communities of color and low-income communities that often suffer the most from environmental injustice. These protections include access to clean air, water, and land, as well as the rights of those affected by climate change. Additionally, the EJM aims to prevent environmental racism, which occurs when environmental decisions made by governments disproportionately affect minority communities. It also seeks to challenge corporate power and limit the influence of corporate lobbying in environmental decision-making. The EJM has sparked much-needed dialogue about environmental inequality and policy reform. The movement has led to increased access to environmental data and to improved public health, both of which are vital to achieving a more equitable society.

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What is the Environmental Justice Movement?

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