Environmental Justice | Golden Age

Environmental justice is a social movement that seeks to address the disproportionate impact of environmental harm on marginalized communities, including racial and ethnic minorities, low-income populations, and indigenous peoples. The movement has grown into a global effort to ensure that all people, regardless of their background or socioeconomic status, have access to clean air, water, and land. With a focus on fair treatment and meaningful involvement in environmental decision-making, environmental justice advocates work to prevent the siting of polluting facilities in vulnerable communities, promote sustainable development, and support climate resilience. According to some sources, environmental justice is a critical component of achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. As noted by Van Jones, a leading environmental justice advocate, 'the fight for environmental justice is a fight for human rights.' The movement has generated studies showing that exposure to environmental harm is inequitably distributed, with marginalized communities facing disproportionate risks from climate change, air pollution, and water pollution.