How Hopeful Environmentalists Can Support Environment Protection and Fight Injustice

In this post, I explore how environmentalists can support environment protection to create a more just and sustainable planet. If environmentalism is the cause closest to your heart, you can use your unique skills to make a difference for those experiencing environmental injustice. Learn from environmental injustices examples.

But, even if another cause has captured your heart, you can support the movement for environmental justice.

There is hope.

What Is Environmental Injustice?

Environmental injustice occurs when marginalized communities, often low-income and people of color, bear the brunt of industry pollution, greenhouse gas emissions, and toxic waste.

Environmental Injustices: Examples

One example is the 2023 Norfolk Southern train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio. The derailment caused a massive fire that burned for several days after dozens of railcars went off the tracks, including several carrying toxic chemicals. Authorities were concerned about an explosion, so they released and burned the chemicals, sending a large plume of black smoke over the area. Chemicals also contaminated the ground and waterways near the crash site, causing ongoing health and environmental risks. Extensive remediation of the site is required.

East Palestine has a higher percentage of Black and Latino residents than the state average, and the community bears a disproportionate burden of environmental hazards compared to wealthier, white areas. For example, in addition to the direct health hazards, the chemical release may have contaminated food sources, crops, livestock, and locally produced goods that minority and lower-income households rely upon. The community has fewer resources to deal with lost wages and relocation.

Another example is marginalized communities being targeted for hazardous waste disposal. Warren County, North Carolina, became the site of a toxic waste landfill in 1982 despite strong opposition from residents.

Environment Protection: Not in My Backyard

Do you think that this won’t happen in your community? It probably already has.

You can find hazards in your area using the EPA Environmental Justice Screening and Mapping Tool. With this tool, you can see where the marginalized communities are in your area. Then, you can map the various environmental hazards. If your area is like mine, you’ll see that the hazards are linked to local industry, and neighborhoods with low income and people of color are located closest to these hazards. Warning: The results may be overwhelming.

Environmental Justice

We must strive for environmental justice so all people, regardless of race, ethnicity, or socioeconomic status, have equal protection from environmental hazards.

Learn about grassroots activism in “The Road to Executive Order 12898 on Environmental Justice” (3:37.)

Environmental Injustices: Examples

Environmental hazards include air, water, and soil pollution. Learn more about activities that create these environmental hazards and how they impact marginalized communities.

Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Global Warming

Our planet is warming due to human activities, leading to extreme weather events, rising sea levels, and melting glaciers. The impacts of global warming are felt worldwide, even though industrialized nations are causing the greenhouse gas emissions that lead to global warming. Marginalized communities bear the brunt of its consequences, worsening economic inequalities.

Environmental Injustices: Examples of How to Combat Global Warming

1. Reduce our carbon footprint by using public transportation, biking, or walking instead of driving.
2. Advocate for policies that support environment protection, such as renewable energy.
3. Support organizations that work on climate change mitigation and adaptation efforts.

Mountaintop Coal Mining

Mountaintop coal mining is a destructive practice that involves removing the tops of Appalachian mountains to access coal seams. This has terrible environmental consequences, including habitat destruction, water pollution, and increased risk of flooding. Communities near mountaintop coal mining operations often experience health problems from coal dust and contaminated water.

In this video, Teri Blanton discusses environmental issues related to coal mining and her lessons learned. She encourages people to consider themselves experts in their community and to speak up about injustice (3:53.)

Environmental Injustices: Examples of How to Combat Mountaintop Coal Mining

1. Promote the transition to cleaner, renewable energy sources.
2. Advocate for environment protection, such as stricter regulations on mountaintop coal mining and reclamation practices.
3. Support organizations that work to protect Appalachian communities and ecosystems.

Lead Contamination in Water Supplies

The presence of lead in water supplies disproportionately affects low-income and minority communities because of old infrastructure. Lead exposure can lead to severe health problems, particularly in children, causing developmental delays, learning disabilities, and behavioral issues.

Cities like Flint, Michigan, have suffered public health crises, with children experiencing increased lead poisoning rates. And sadly, Flint still does not have clean water.

Environmental Injustices: Examples of How to Address Lead in Water

1. Advocate for stricter regulations on lead levels in drinking water.
2. Support policies that allocate funding for infrastructure improvements in affected communities.
3. Encourage the use of water filters and regular testing in homes.

Little Miss Flint Is Passionate About Environmental Justice

Mari Copeny was eight years old when she wrote a letter to President Obama to ask him to help with the Flint water crisis. Starting with that one action, she has done more to make the world a better place than many adults.

Industry Pollution

Industries are a huge cause of air, water, and soil pollution.

For example, Amazon warehouses are often located in low-income areas, where residents are exposed to higher levels of pollutants from increased truck traffic and diesel emissions. This can lead to respiratory issues and other health problems.

Another example of air pollution and environmental injustice is the Mossville community in Louisiana, which has been heavily impacted by petrochemical refineries. Mossville is a historically African American community, and residents have been exposed to toxic air pollutants for decades.

In 2015, the EPA accidentally released three million gallons of toxic wastewater into Colorado’s Animas and San Juan rivers. This contamination affected Native American communities, such as the Navajo Nation, which rely on these rivers for drinking water, agriculture, and religious practices.

Factory farming of animals is a significant source of greenhouse gas emissions and is the largest source of water pollution. Communities near factory farms often experience adverse health effects from air and water pollutants exposure. Moreover, factory farming contributes to animal welfare issues and biodiversity loss.

Environmental Injustices: Examples of How to Address Industry Pollution

1. Advocate for environment protection, such as stricter regulations on industrial pollution and waste disposal.
2. Support community-led initiatives to monitor and address environmental hazards.
3. Encourage companies to adopt environmentally responsible practices, especially when locating facilities.
4. Vote for policymakers who prioritize environmental justice and equitable distribution of resources.
5. Support local, sustainable, and organic agriculture and reduce meat consumption.

What Can a Budding Environmentalist Do for Environment Protection?

Environmental activism is fueled by everyday individuals like you. You can make a difference whether you’re passionate about clean air, wildlife conservation, or climate action. Let’s explore how you can get involved.

Engagement vs. Mobilization

Suppose environmentalism is not the cause closest to your heart. In that case, you can still make a difference by mobilizing to support environmental justice.

Mobilization might look like reducing your carbon footprint, contacting your elected representatives about issues, donating to environmental organizations, and supporting green businesses.

But if environmentalism is the cause closest to your heart, use your deep engagement to be effective and motivated, using the 5-Step Activism Path.

Your Journey on the 5-Step Activism Path

The Activism Path helps you:

1. Find the cause closest to your heart.
2. Be clear about your unique gifts.
3. Do activism you love.
4. Make an impact on your cause.
5. Stay motivated for the long term.

There are many issues of environmental injustice and many ways you can make a difference. So, narrow your focus to the issue that matters most to you. Understand the skills and personal motivation you bring to the activism table. Choose an activism method you love. Make sure you are impactful and motivated so you are effective long-term.

Deep engagement looks like serving on your planning commission to support green energy initiatives and using social media to raise awareness of environmental injustice in your community.

Here are examples of creative ways environmentalists are working for environment protection:

• John Sabraw creates art with toxic materials from abandoned mines to highlight the industry’s impact.
• Runners for Public Lands organizes runners for environmental justice, advocacy, and conservation.
• The island nation of Palau makes visitors sign an environmental pledge.
• Billy Edd Wheeler creates music to protest mountaintop removal coal mining.
• Carbon Footprint is both a calculator of your carbon footprint and a source for reducing and offsetting it.
• The “Doing Good” app filters brands based on sustainability.
• Playing for the Planet helps gamers commit to climate action and encourages the video game industry to reduce emissions.
• A nonpartisan group of climate scientists (also moms!) works to demystify climate change, talk honestly about its effects, and protect their kids’ futures.

Hope for a Greener Future

Environmentalists like you can create positive change and fight for environmental justice. There is hope in the environmentalist movement when we come together to demand meaningful reform protecting people and the planet.