Climate, Sustainability, and Environmental Justice
THIS LESSON
Provides a foundational understanding of environmental racism and its impact on marginalized communities.
Covers historical and contemporary cases, including:
New York City: Superfund sites in Brooklyn and Queens, including Greenpoint, Newtown Creek, and the Wolff-Alport Chemical Company, and their health consequences.
Philadelphia: The environmental and health effects of the Philadelphia Energy Solutions (PES) refinery, including its 2019 explosion and continued emissions of harmful chemicals.
New Jersey: Environmental justice cases in Camden, Newark’s Ironbound District, and the Ramapough Mountain Indian community, highlighting industrial pollution and legal battles.
Offers insight into:
The systemic policies and practices that place polluting industries in low-income, predominantly BIPOC communities.
The role of environmental justice movements in addressing disparities, including the historical roots of the movement.
The ongoing health, social, and economic consequences of environmental racism and the importance of advocacy and policy changes in mitigating these effects.