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According to the EPA, “Environmental justice is the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, national origin, or income, with respect to the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies.”

Unfortunately, this definition of environmental justice represents an ideal, not a reality.

For example, in America, “White people experience a “pollution advantage,” where they exposed to 17% less air pollution than is caused by their consumption. Back and LatinX people, on average, bear a “pollution burden” of 56% and 63% excess exposure, respectively, relative to the exposure caused by their consumption.

In particular, the southern United States is rife with environmental injustice — from the proliferation of petrochemical facilities to the contamination of drinking water and even the impact of climate change-induced disasters. Black and brown communities too often face threats to their health and safety from environmental pollutants, toxics, and degradation.

This panel will explore the work being done by environmental justice lawyers, organizers, and advocates across the South fighting for the right to a safe, clean, and livable environment for their communities.