Environmental Justice in California

Lee Chan

ART 3170-01

WHAT IS ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE?

Environmental justice is the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of everyone regardless of race, gender, national origin, or income level. Fair treatment means that no people group should be disproportionately affected by environmental issues, such as air pollution. Meaningful involvement ensures that the public has an opportunity to voice concerns regarding the health of themselves and their communities.

ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE CONCERNS IN LA COUNTY

Communities of color and low-income communities in Los Angeles County are more likely to be located near facilities that produce dangerous environmental hazards such as oil wells, landfills, and/or power plants. Additionally, large freeways and streets generate more pollution. Areas that are subjected to more pollutants put those individuals at a higher risk for developing serious health issues such as asthma, respiratory issues, or cancer. Data from the CalEnviroScreen shows communities that are disproportionately affected by air pollution. This raises concerns of environmental justice because of the unequal and unfair treatment of certain people groups, and ultimately surpresses these communities even more. 

AIR QUALITY IN CALIFORNIA

Recent reports have shown that Los Angeles is the nation's highest polluting city. In addition, 19 of the top 20 polluting cities in the nation are located in California. Thankfully, studies have also shown that from 2020 to 2021, pollution in Los Angeles has decreased by 6% (IQAir, 2022). This is still a global issue, as the growing reliance on fossil fuels in the transportation industry from cars, factories, and ports has caused the level of emissions to continue to rise. 

Additionally, Los Angeles has one of the worst ozone layers in the country, which is also a result of the harmful emissions such as particulates, sulfur oxides, and nitrogen oxides. This rise in pollution has also expedited climate change processes, and in California, that means more wildfires. In any given year, California's most polluted cities are most likely to be hit the hardest by wildfire season. 

PERSONAL CONNECTIONS

Environmental justice is an issue that we should all be concerned about to some extent. I would say that I live in a generally "middle-class" city, but it is also very clearly a community of color. That being said, I never noticed that there are multiple landfills and other hazardous facilities within a 30 mile radius from my home. In Los Angeles, freeways and large intersections are almost unavoidable to get anywhere via car. 

Especially with recent events, the effects of climate change are truly starting to show in every day life. If we don't collectively try harder to be environmentally conscious, the changes being made to the Earth will become irreversible. Most importantly, I believe that corporations and those in positions of power and/or influence need to push more for a call to action to combat climate change. If we don't deal with these issues now, there won't be an Earth for future generations to enjoy and preserve.

REFERENCES

Air & Environment Justice  

Air Quality in California

CalEnviroScreen 4.0

Learn About Environmental Justice