As mentioned in the last post, we discussed how richer people within a country consume way more and produce greater waste than their counterparts, despite living in a developed country. We also looked at how developed countries that have higher economic inequality have greater consumption and waste production rates. In this post, we will look into how certain demographics suffer disproportionately greater impacts from pollution. 

In the US, polluting industries are usually found in poor communities For instance, petrochemical companies, and oil refineries densely populate Louisiana, a state that has the second-highest poverty rate in the US (Groner, 2021).  The state also has lax rules and policies favoring these pollutive industries, causing many residents to suffer from cancer and miscarriages (Groner, 2021). Moreover, these companies in Louisiana often outsource their labor to other communities (Groner, 2021). As a result, those living near these plants are not only suffering from pollution, they are also deprived of economic gains from operating plants in their communities since they do not get hired to work for these plants (Groner, 2021).  

Apart from environmental classism described above, the US is also grappling with environmental racism as many of the polluting industries are located near non-white communities, thus disproportionately affecting the non-white communities. According to Borunda (2021), 14 of the city’s 17 industrial waste sites in Houston that account for over 80 percent of the city’s waste tonnage were situated in black neighborhoods. This is no coincidence since only 25 percent of Houston’s population were Black (Borunda, 2021). In fact, several reports confirm that toxic waste sites and pollutive industries such as fossil fuel plants are situated near black communities (Borunda, 2021). Much of this environmental racism is etched in the history of slavery (Groner, 2021). 

As seen in Figure 1 below, the Blacks and Hispanics face air pollution levels greater than what they contribute. It is the opposite for the whites and other races, where their exposure to air pollution is lower than their contribution to air pollution (Borunda, 2021).

Figure 1: Comparison of average person’s contribution and exposure to air pollution according to race/ethnicity (Borunda, 2021)

This disparity in pollution effects felt by different races and income groups gave birth to the environmental justice movement. In 1992, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) officially defined environmental justice as “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” (EPA, n.d.). While talks about environmental justice revolve around the US as a case study, the lack of environmental justice is prevalent in other countries as well. 

The recognition that certain racial and income groups are facing disproportionate greater exposure to pollution gave birth to the environmental justice movement. However, are there cases where one recognises this inequality, but can’t speak up for it? With that in mind, see you in the next post!

Keep Looking!
Komal

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References:

Borunda, A. (2021, February 25). The origins of environmental justice-and why it’s finally getting the attention it deserves. Environment. Retrieved April 5, 2022, from https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/article/environmental-justice-origins-why-finally-getting-the-attention-it-deserves

Environmental Protection Agency [EPA]. (n.d.). Environmental Justice. Environmental Protection Agency. Retrieved April 10, 2022, from https://www.epa.gov/environmentaljustice

Groner, A. (2022, May 8). Louisiana Chemical Plants Are Thriving Off Of Slavery. The Atlantic. Retrieved April 2, 2022, from https://www.theatlantic.com/culture/archive/2021/05/louisiana-chemical-plants-thriving-off-slavery/618769/

University of Michigan. (n.d.). Environmental justice definitions . Retrieved April 10, 2022, from https://www.nmhealth.org/publication/view/help/309/

Featured Image Noranda Alumina, located on the Mississippi River in Gramercy, Louisiana, is the only major alumina refinery operating in the United States. Picture by: Stacy Kranitz (Obtained from Groner, 2022)