Environmental Justice through Community-Policy Participatory Partnerships

Geographical information systems (GIS) are often used to design environmental justice (EJ) policy interventions. Leveraging GIS and other graphics, overburdened EJ communities can learn from maps that geographically link environmental burden (EB) and social disparity (SD) data. Visually representing EB and SD data concretizes the unjust distributions of environmental and broader inequitable societal policies. These maps can be used to efficaciously assess EJ disparities created by such policies through exploring socioeconomic characteristics with local communities. Given the great variation in how GIS EJ applications measure and visualize EB and SD, we present a community-based participatory design (CBPD) lens to collaboratively work across overburdened communities and support making EJ data accessible to all stakeholders. Our location proximity approach is a powerful way to assess overburdened EJ communities because it relies on user-predefined boundaries, and it doesn’t use a single fixed unit of reference to prioritize areas of intervention. Moreover, most areal unit applications use ordinal measures, such as percentiles, and multidimensional indexes, which are intelligible to understand by many residents. Leveraging a community-based participatory design methodology, we present our novel Proximity to Hazards Dashboard (PHD) that includes data on asphalt plants and industrial corridors, hazards often missing from state-level dashboards but very relevant for city policymaking, as well as more traditionally used environmental hazard sources. The use of the tool by policymakers and community members suggests that EJ categorization should focus less on procedural benchmarks and more on systemic change for policy impacts in ways that sustain the participatory nature of our approach.

Environmental and Climate Justice in Palestine

To have a clean, safe, and functional environment is not only essential for the purpose of preservation, but also imperative for safeguarding the most fundamental of human rights. Resolution 45/94 of the United Nations (UN) General Assembly also stresses and acknowledges that: “all individuals are entitled to live in an environment adequate for their health and wellbeing” (United Nations Digital Library System, 1991). Environmental and climate justice, which: “emerged in the context of the local environmental struggles of directly oppressed groups”, is a global movement dedicated to ensuring equal protection of people’s human rights (i.e., water, health, life, etc.) in the face of the climate crisis. Moreover, health, environment and human rights are part of the 2030 agenda (in particular, SDG 1, SDG 5, SDG 6, SDG 7, SDG 13, SDG 16, SDG 17). Individually, both environmental and climate justice are rooted in an intersectional outlook, by which they highlight the common threads between communities and the people’s inclusion, irrespective of race, class, or gender, in the pursuit of justice. On the other hand, they recognise and acknowledge the role and consequences of climate change in economic, social, and political dimensions;thus, drawing emphasis on the rights of people under the emerging inequities. In the case of Palestine, the Palestinian community is increasingly becoming vulnerable to these effects and the resulting inequalities of climate change. This vulnerability stems from: 1) The right to life;clean WASH;equitable work opportunities;access to resources;and free movement;are all examples of human rights that the Israeli colonial regime infringes upon;2) Infrastructure is essential for climate adaptation: 61% of the West Bank is ultimately barred from building infrastructure (B’Tselem, 2019) and Gaza Strip has major gaps in infrastructure due to intentional destruction by Israel;3) Palestinian deprivation of the sovereign right to natural resources by Israel;4) Apartheid system in water accessibility: Israeli water usage per person is over three times higher than that of Palestinians (their usage is under the WHO recommended minimum per day) (B’Tselem, 2023);and 5) Violent settler attacks. In 2022 alone, the Applied Research Institute-Jerusalem (ARIJ) recorded 1527 settler attacks that targeted land, properties, livestock, agriculture and even Palestinian civilians. The ongoing neglect of these concerns and the persistent colonization of Palestine by Israel unequivocally and unwaveringly affect the human rights of Palestinians. The power dynamics at play especially hamper the Palestinian ability to exercise and fulfill their inalienable human rights and to tackle the obstacles to justice in their environment.

Power outage and environmental justice in Winter Storm Uri: an analytical workflow based on nighttime light remote sensing

The intensity of extreme weather events has been increasing,posing a unique threat to society and highlighting the importance of our electrical power system,a key component in our infrastructure.In severe weather events,quickly identifying power outage impact zones and affected communities is crucial for informed disaster response.However,a lack of household-level power outage data impedes timely and precise assessments.To address these challenges,we introduced an analytical workflow using NASA’s Black Marble daily nighttime light(NTL)images to detect power outages from the 2021 Winter Storm Uri.This workflow includes adjustments to mitigate viewing angle and snow reflection effects.Power outage is detected by comparing storm-time and baseline(normal condition)NTL images using an empirical adjusted equation.The outcomes of the workflow are 500-meter resolution power outage maps,which have the optimal correlation with real outage tracking data when NTL intensity is reduced by 26%.With the resultant power outage maps,we analyzed the relations between power outages and disadvantaged populations in 126 Texas counties and 4182 census tracts to evaluate environmental justice in the storm.The results show that Latino/Hispanic communities tend to suffer more from power outages at both the county and census tract levels.

Environmental Justice in the Context of Scientific Uncertainty: On the Safety of Genetically Modified Organisms

A foremost issue of our time is our response to risks,especially those arising from scientific uncertainty,such as genetically modified organisms(GMOs).In this context,we need to achieve and maintain environmental justice.This should be based on the corresponding scientific research;essentially,however,it is a kind of social construct.We must maintain a free market mechanism for the development,application,and dissemination of modern technology,including genetically modified biotech and its products.At the same time,the necessary government intervention and legal regulation of the relevant science and technology should be put in place to ensure public safety and the interests of socially disadvantaged groups.

Investigating the Air Quality Parameters in Louisiana’s Industrial Corridor: A Baton Rouge Case Study

In a local context, sustainable development entails utilizing the current resources—material and immaterial, measurable and immeasurable, popular and unpopular—of the community in a manner that avoids overexploitation and ensures intergenerational equity. This approach prioritizes the safety and health of local citizens, placing communal productivity above corporate profitability. This research aims to assess air quality surrounding 28 chemical industry sites in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, to understand the environmental and health impacts of industrial pollutants, with a focus on environmental justice. Air quality pollutants, including PM2.5, PM10, O3, NO2, CO, and SO2, were monitored for 75 days during the Summer, using the BreezoMeter app. Python, Mapize, and QGIS software technologies were utilized for data analysis and visualization. Findings indicate a reduction in NO2 and CO levels, compared to existing literature. However, the persistent challenge of particulate matter suggests areas for further environmental management efforts. Additionally, the research suggests a significant disparity in air pollution exposure, probably affecting marginalized communities. Although the nature of the study might not fully capture annual pollution trends, the findings highlight the urgent need for the chemical industry to adopt efficient production methods and for policymakers to enhance air quality standards and enforcement, particularly in pollution-sensitive areas. The disproportionate impact of air pollution on vulnerable communities calls for a more inclusive approach to environmental justice, ensuring equitable distribution of clean air benefits and community involvement in pollution management decisions.

Controlled Environment Agriculture and Its Ability to Mitigate Food Insecurity

The research objective of this review is to discuss the rationale that led to the development of Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) and investigate this agricultural approach as a potential solution to mitigate the increased pressures on food security. It describes the need for urban cultivation systems using controlled environments and how they can be harnessed to address pressures facing food security. The factors that have contributed to the growth of CEAs, education, environmental justice, and the advantages and disadvantages of growing crops in CEAs in urban areas will be discussed. The article reviews global urban cultivation systems using controlled environments, by identifying the technologies needed to establish them. The practice of CEA is being increasingly adopted worldwide and we describe urban agriculture and compare it with traditional growing systems. Indoor farming systems that integrate into existing urban infrastructure such as vertical farming and plant factories using CEAs are discussed. Indoor farming gives urban areas enhanced access to food sources, but the cost is high, however decreasing due to recent technological advances. The current review extends the literature by incorporating recent research on the topic of agriculture in urban areas and food security. This review seeks to provide additional information regarding the viability of CEA in urban areas.

Puerto Rico’s Water Supply: An Investigation of the Levels of Trihalomethanes and Other Contaminants

The US Commonwealth of Puerto Rico is comprised of 143 islands, atolls, cays, and islets. Of the 143 localities, only 3 islands are inhabited: The mainland (often referenced as Puerto Rico), Culebra, and Vieques. To properly analyze the water supply quality, the mainland will be the focal point for examining environmental and social injustices. Puerto Rico is a racially diverse but ethnically homogenous territory, with most of the commonwealth living below the poverty level. Access to clean water sources is always tenuous in Puerto Rico. Over 70 percent of the island is served by water, violating US health standards. However, the recent hurricanes made the situation even more detrimental. According to data reported between January 2015 and March 2018 by the Consumer Confidence Report (CCR), 97 percent of the population of Puerto Rico utilizes a common drinking water system with one or more recent violations of the Safe Drinking Water Act for its testing requirements for lead and copper levels. The amounts found were far higher than any US state, meaning that virtually everyone on the island gets water from systems that violated testing or reporting requirements. In this study, we have collected and analyzed the levels of trihalomethanes (THMs), haloacetic acids (HAAs), copper, lead, and total organic compounds (TOCs) in drinking water providing systems in Puerto Rico and compared them with the recommended levels of contaminants provided by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) guidelines. Many of these reported contaminants can have serious and detrimental health effects after prolonged exposure to higher concentrations of the contaminants found in the drinking water sources of Puerto Rico.

Land Grab and Land Grant:Contextualizing Landscape Justice in Social Forestry in Indonesia

Social forestry has emerged as a popular approach to achieving landscape justice by empowering local communities.However,the development and implementation of such programs often face challenges.This paper explores the concept of landscape justice within the context of Indonesian social forestry in two ways.First,it juxtaposes the social forestry program with palm oil plantations to highlight the relationship between environmental initiatives and capital expansion,and the formation of green capitalism.By examining the historical development of social forestry,the paper argues that current political and legal frameworks have facilitated the depoliticization of previously radical,anti-capitalist,and anti-palm oil civil movements,despite notionally“empowering”local communities.Second,the paper interrogates the inclusivity of the social forestry program within local communities,noting that NGOs sometimes label local people as“cooperative”or“stubborn,”thus overlooking the pre-existing social tensions.The paper posits that more attention should be given to the social foundations underlying environmental projects and the new eco-social structure arising from environmental governance.

Radioactive Contaminants in U.S. Drinking Water and Water Quality Disparities

Radioactive contaminants, such as radium, radon, and uranium isotopes are naturally present in drinking water, and gas and oil extraction like hydraulic fracturing can exasperate radionuclide leakage into groundwater. The concentration of radionuclide in drinking water is dependent upon the water source and the underlying lithology within the aquifers. In United States, the Environmental Protection Agency regulates the level of radioactivity in drinking water via the gross alpha test, which is conducted to measure the emitted alpha particles as a result of the radioactive elements’ natural decay. Radionuclides, such as radium and uranium, are known to cause bone cancer and other forms of cancer. Communities with crippling water purification infrastructure may be at a higher risk of being exposed to radionuclides, and this is a significant environmental justice concern. The radionuclide concentrations for the metropolitan or most populated city in each state in the United States and its territories (Puerto Rico, US Virgin Islands and Guam) were analyzed and correlated to the annual household income, to determine any disparities that maybe present. Lower income communities had elevated levels of radionuclides when compared to higher income communities which had lower frequency in elevated radionuclide contaminants.

Total Trihalomethane Levels in Major Watersheds across the United States

Trihalomethanes, such as chloroform, bromoform, dibromo(chloro)methane, and bromo(dichloro)methane, are present in the major watersheds across the United States. These chemicals play an important role in the development of cancer, have adverse reproductive outcomes, and were found to be present above the threshold established by the Environmental Protection Agency. To understand the impact of socioeconomic background on the quality of water and possible disparities, we have analyzed the levels of total trihalomethanes in the metropolitan areas in the major watersheds across the United States, in 2018, as they correlated to average household incomes. Our study found that Arkansas, Nevada, and Rhode Island demonstrated higher than federally mandated levels of total trihalomethanes in their watersheds. The median annual household and per capita incomes of the three states (Arkansas, Nevada, and Rhode Island) were lower than the national average. In addition, Delaware, New Hampshire, and Wisconsin, which had higher median income levels, demonstrated the lowest total trihalomethane levels across the United States.

Displacement of Indigenous People in Canada under the Indian Act: Participatory Video with Lake St. Martin and Little Saskatchewan First Nations on Flood Impacts

Four participatory video research projects were undertaken over eight years with two Indigenous communities displaced by a flood. The films focus on how floodwaters were diverted away from non-Indigenous regions to Indigenous communities at Lake St. Martin by Canada’s colonial government. This displacement repeats the colonial pattern of forcibly relocating Indigenous people away from their land, resources, and good life. This participatory video research of flood stories underwent a content, process, and outcome analysis. The environmental, social, cultural, health and economic impacts are documented in the films, including poverty, environmental injustice, gang predation, separation of families, food insecurity, illness, culture loss, addictions, and racism. The films captured the lived experience of Elders, youth and, families during their eight years of displacement to temporary, unsuitable accommodations and upon relocation. In terms of process, community members engaged in filming, scriptwriting, and narrating to tell their stories. The process was transformative, decolonizing, and built community research capacity. The participatory video research was helpful for lawyers advocating for compensation. The popularity of the videos online exceeded that of academic papers and helped fuel a movement to wake people to the ongoing colonial injustices faced by Indigenous people across Canada. This paper not only analyzes the films but traces the roots of Indigenous displacement by man-made flooding to the Indian Act and colonization, calling for abolishing the Indian Act and decolonization.

Diversifying Clean Water: An Examination of Drinking Water Quality and Social Disparities in Michigan

Water is one of the most essential resources required to sustain life. However, it could be detrimental to the health of those without access to water that is properly treated. Although the Safe Drinking Water Act of 1974 set regulations to protect citizens from naturally occurring and man-made contaminants, some people are still without clean and safe water, which is speculated to be because of their race. This research examines the disproportionality of available clean water provided by government sources in Michigan and its correlation with race and household income. In the study, it has been found that one of the leading causes of water contamination is industrial activity, with the automobile industry being responsible for approximately 300 million tons of lead contamination in water, and that the manufacturing company’s locations mostly centered in minority and low-income areas. Lower income cities, such as Hamtramck and Benton Harbor, have an average of 14.8 drinking water standard violations with the highest being 99 total violations, while higher income cities, like Novi and Bloomfield hills, have an average of 4 violations. Cities, like Flint and Detroit, which have a higher minority population, are 10 times more likely to have a water standard violation, and the minority population is proportionally related to the possibility of industrial manufacturing being located in those areas. These communities also face a higher risk of birth defects, developmental issues in children, and organ failure in adults, due to continuous exposure to water contaminants. Race as a direct causation could not be proven, but there are links to direct correlation through historical redlining and housing trends.

Ecological Ideas Reflected in Landscape Paintings Produced by Xin'an School

With the worsening of our environmental problems, eco-criticism has become an important topic in academic circles.As an important source of information regarding the history of Chinese painting, the Xin'an School of Painting has created rich ecological ideas including love for nature, yearnings for rural life, and calls for environmental justice.Influenced by Taoism, many painters followed the slogan "effortless action." They indulged in the beauty of nature and minimized the troubles of real life.Analyzing the ideas reflected in these works can help us understand the creative connotations of the artists and provide helpful suggestions for solving real problems.

A Longitudinal Study of Human Exposure to Potential Nuclear Power Plant Risk

This study constructs a potential risk index(PRI) for the 65 U.S.-based commercial nuclear power plant(NPP) sites in relation to their surrounding populations. Four risk levels are defined: low risk, moderate risk,high risk, and very high risk. Discrepancies that exist in the sociodemographic characteristics of the host communities’ populations are examined as sorted by risk-level category.It is found that a greater percentage of minority groups are exposed to the highest levels of risk. In addition, percent 'Hispanic' and percent 'Other,'a grouping that includes multiracial, mixed, interracial, as well as Hispanic and Latino groups(for example, Mexican, Puerto Rican,Cuban, or Spanish) are categories that show the greatest percent change in both the period 1990–2000 and2000–2010.

Climate-influenced vector-borne diseases in Africa:a call to empower the next generation of African researchers for sustainable solutions

We look at the link between climate change and vector-borne diseases in low-and middle-income countries in Africa.The large endemicity and escalating threat of diseases such as malaria and arboviral diseases,intensified by climate change,disproportionately affects vulnerable communities globally.We highlight the urgency of prioritizing research and development,advocating for robust scientific inquiry to promote adaptation strategies,and the vital role that the next generation of African research leaders will play in addressing these challenges.Despite significant challenges such as funding shortages within countries,various pan-African-oriented funding bodies such as the African Academy of Sciences,the Africa Research Excellence Fund,the Wellcome Trust,the U.S.National Institutes of Health,and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation as well as initiatives such as the African Research Initiative for Scientific Excellence and the Pan-African Mosquito Control Association,have empowered(or are empowering)these researchers by supporting capacity building activities,including continental and global networking,skill development,mentoring,and African-led research.This article underscores the urgency of increased national investment in research,proposing the establishment of research government agencies to drive evidence-based interventions.Collaboration between governments and scientific communities,sustained by pan-African funding bodies,is crucial.Through these efforts,African nations are likely to enhance the resilience and adaptive capacity of their systems and communities by navigating these challenges effectively,fostering scientific excellence and implementing transformative solutions against climate-sensitive vector-borne diseases.