JUSTICE 40: The White House Tackles Environmental Justice
“North Carolina is the birthplace of the modern environmental justice movement in the United States. It’s about ensuring everyone has access to a safe environment and its benefits. To accomplish this, impacted communities must also have meaningful participation in the decision-making processes affecting their environment. We have a lot of work to do to secure environmental justice for everyone.”
– Allen Buansi, NC State Representative
Now, almost 40 years after the calls for environmental justice by the concerned North Carolinians of Warren County, the Biden-Harris Administration has announced its second environmental Executive Order, one that will extend environmental justice and clean energy to all, regardless of race or income. This “whole-of-government commitment” directs all agencies under the executive branch to cement the link between the right to live in a clean environment and civil rights.
At his press conference, President Biden stressed the serious health consequences of pollution. In fact, he attributed his own childhood asthma to growing up “in a town where there were more oil refineries than in Houston.”
Intent on building partnerships with communities that have been subjected to a legacy of racial discrimination, including redlining, the Biden-Harris Administration kicked off Revitalizing Our Nation’s Commitment to Environmental Justice for All in Raleigh on April 21. The campaign redoubles the Administration’s efforts to engage marginalized and overburdened local communities and to focus agency resources and attention on their crucial needs.
At the launch, representatives of three Federal agencies announced that the Walnut Creek watershed in Raleigh is now part of the Federal Urban Waters Federal Partnership through which 15 government agencies will work with local partners to restore water resources and “make a tangible difference in a community with legacy environmental concerns.”
In 2020, then-candidate Biden promised to prioritize environmental justice if elected. On December 8, 2021, he signed his first environmental executive order. That document, widely known for reaffirming the country’s commitment to the Paris Accord, also established the government-wide Justice40 Initiative. Justice40 directs that at least 40% of the overall benefit of certain climate-focused Federal investments will flow to disadvantaged communities overburdened by pollution.
One innovative and already successful part of the Initiative is the Justice40 Accelerator. The Accelerator enables 160 non-profit funders to partner with the Federal Government to assist and prepare grassroots community groups to successfully apply for a variety of climate change and environmental justice Federal grants. This long-sought training includes grant writing, capacity-building and other forms of assistance to prepare groups to apply for and implement Federal funding.
This approach may be the first of its kind and is generating considerable excitement. Although the fight against the climate crisis at the local level is typically led by people from communities of color, they are often unsuccessful when applying for Federal funds. Now, with over one-third of first-time applicants winning Federal grants, the Justice40 Accelerator could be the answer to getting those resources to disadvantaged communities victimized by environmental injustice.
Also in April, the EPA and the Department of Energy announced the creation of 17 Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Technical Assistance Centers (EJ. TCTACs). One Center will be housed at the Research Triangle Institute in Research Triangle Park and may open this month. Each Center will receive $10 million over a 5-year period to provide technical assistance to underserved communities applying for Federal resources from nearly 470 programs across nineteen federal agencies.
Significantly, the Justice 40 Accelerator is already benefiting North Carolinians: a Durham affordable housing project of the Durham Community Land Trustees is part of the first class of Justice40 Accelerator grant recipients: The Justice40 Accelerator Funds Durham Community Land Trustees to Pursue ILFI’s Core Certification and Promote Environmental Justice in North Carolina
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Post Script:
While communities across the country are struggling with climate-driven disasters, the Republican-controlled US House Appropriations Committee last week approved the 2024 Appropriations bill for the Departments of Interior, the Environment and Related Agencies at less than 2018 funding levels. Included in the cuts is $9 billion contained in President Biden’s 2023 Inflation Reduction Act to address climate chance: $1.4 billion for environmental justice and $7.8 billion for greenhouse gas infrastructure improvement grants. Instead, this Republican bill would promote exploration for and the use of fossil fuels.
The bill would reduce Environmental Protection Agency funding by 39%, and that of three key Interior agencies by double digits. Also, regulations that would protect the quality of our air and water would be blocked. Please see the links below for the details of this “let them eat cake” approach to protecting the American public.
The bill next goes to the Republican-controlled House for a vote.
Appropriations Committee Approves FY24 Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Bill
GOP Pushes Disastrous Environmental Plan As The Planet Bakes
For further information:
Justice40 A Whole-of-government Initiative
Joe Biden: Executive order on environmental justice offers 'basic dignity' for all