President Joe Biden had previously promised that he would legally address the problems faced minority communities because they are most affected by climate change. However, it may prove difficult to keep such a promise as the path is rife with legal challenges from those opposed.
Brenda Mallory, Chairwoman of White House Council of Environmental Quality, stated that we are trying set up a framework that will last and that connects to the real-world impacts that people are feeling. I believe that we can do this based on race-neutral criteria.
What is environmental racism?
Environmental racism refers the fact that many minority communities in the US and around the world are at greater risk from climate change. This is often due the fact that these communities are located near more hazard-prone areas, and often receive little support in combating these issues due their often lower socioeconomic standing.
Benjamin Chavis, an African American civil Rights leader, coined the term “environmental racism”. He defined it as “racial discrimination” in environmental policy-making, enforcement of laws, deliberate targeting of communities for toxic waste facilities, official sanctioning of the existence of poisons and other pollutants in our communities, and history of excluding people with color from leading ecology movements.
There are many types of environmental racism. One of the most common examples of environmental racism is the presence in the vicinity of minority communities of extremely polluting industries.
These industries include quarries, mines and smelters as well as coal-fired power plants. These structures can pollute the local environment and, often, due to lax regulations, can also lead to groundwater contamination.
This is evident in the 1984 Union Carbide disaster in Bhopal. Thomas Titus, Hindustan Times, wrote that the invisible deadly gas spread throughout the city while the poor who lived in hutments and shanties were most affected by their inability to access vehicles and well-sealed homes.
Environmental racism can also be applied to other projects, such as the construction of hydroelectric plants that often harm tribal communities and rural residents the most.
The Flint, Michigan situation — famousized by Julia Roberts-starrer – is not found outside India. Erin Brockovich — is often cited as an example of environmental racism. Flint’s residents, who a majority belonged to Black communities in Flint, were exposed to tap water contaminated with lead and other contaminants. This can cause diseases such cholecystitis (bacteremia), urinary tract infection, and traveller’s diarrhea.
Canada’s First Nation communities are suffering from poor sanitation and water availability. This is similar to the case in Canada, where environmental racism manifests itself as poor funding, government policies, and government apathy.
This problem is not limited to a handful of locations around the world, but is a worldwide issue. It is hoped that some initiatives and measures would help to alleviate the suffering of certain sections of society and prepare them for the dangers of climate change.
(Edited by: Shoma Bhattacharjee)
