S. Environmental Justice Law and Policy

Environmental Justice (EJ) has been defined as the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people in the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policy. EJ theory and practice begins with recognition that environmental benefits (such as clean air) and environmental harms (such as water pollution) are not always distributed equitably among populations. In fact, environmental harms often fall heavier on racial minorities, on the poor, on immigrant communities, on children or the elderly, and on other population segments. The study of environmental justice examines the various bases for these disparate impacts and also looks for solutions grounded in law, policy, or practice. Throughout the semester, students will be encouraged to identify solutions to contemporary problems of environmental justice and related concerns for social justice such as climate justice, disaster justice, and food justice. We will discuss readings, welcome guest speakers, conduct our own research, and learn from each other on the way toward becoming stronger advocates and allies for environmental justice.