EPA struggles to deliver environmental justice in overpolluted communities
The Biden administration's Justice40 Initiative aimed to address environmental injustice by prioritizing investments in overburdened communities, but residents in southern hotspots like Jackson, Mississippi and Louisiana's Cancer Alley are still waiting for meaningful change.
Lylla Younes reports for Grist.
In short:
- Biden’s Justice40 Initiative sought to direct 40% of federal climate and clean energy investments to marginalized communities, but progress has been slow.
- EPA Administrator Michael Regan toured polluted southern towns in 2021, promising stronger enforcement and funding, but industrial pollution and systemic barriers remain entrenched.
- Critics argue the EPA’s efforts, including air monitoring and funding allocations, fall short of addressing the root causes of pollution and community health crises.
Key quote:
“EPA is just trying to pacify us. They’ve done nothing but ignore the community folk and what they want. We want true change.”
— Debra Sullivan Ramirez, Mossville resident
Why this matters:
Polluted communities, often home to low-income and minority populations, face severe health risks and environmental degradation due to decades of industrial activity. Without systemic reforms and stronger enforcement, pollution hotspots will continue to suffer, leaving residents without clean air, water or trust in regulatory efforts.
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