ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE

Why ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE
Every American, no matter who they are or where they live, deserves to breathe clean air, drink clean water, and live on unpolluted land safe from the environmental extremes occurring due to climate change. Yet minority and low-income communities bear the disproportionate burden of air and water pollution, poor sanitation, the dumping of toxic waste, and the impacts of climate change. Longstanding policies of social and racial discrimination have created an unjust system that inequitably distributes environmental harm upon Black, Brown, Indigenous, and poor communities. Minority and low-income communities across Alabama face ongoing harm from pollution and environmental damage and are increasingly vulnerable to extreme weather events such as flooding and record-setting heat. In addition to facing disproportionate environmental impacts, minority and low-income communities lack the social capital, money, and resources to address the harm caused by existing environmental injustices, or prevent new environmentally unjust actions that target their neighborhoods. 

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Our Environmental Justice Mission
AISJ works to achieve meaningful and sustainable systems change that addresses the disparities and harm resulting from environmental injustice that Black, Brown, indigenous, and low-income communities face. 

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environmental justice Policy Agenda
 

• Center Justice and Equity within Environmental Action
  Change the approach to environmental policy to prevent disadvantaged communities from being disproportionately harmed, and ensure that justice and equity are priorities in law-making, regulation, and social action.

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• Repair Environmental Harm
  Take restorative action to repair damage to the local environment from pollution and address environmental health disparities within minority and low-income communities impacted by longstanding environmental injustices.

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• Protect Communities from Climate Change 
  Invest in minority and low-income communities, create plans for long-term resiliency, and build the necessary infrastructure to lessen the impacts of climate change and prevent future harm.