The Interrelation Between Social Justice and Environmental Justice

Written by Derrick Kojo Nyamedi

There are a lot of issues we will have to reminisce on but first of all, we must acknowledge the role of both social activism and climate activism in the world we live in and not forget the intersection between the two.

They both act as complements, and we cannot have one without the other in that they work hand in hand to deliver to the world. Climate justice is social justice due to the intersection of social and climate activism, and the issues they both seek to address include environmental racism.

With environmental issues becoming increasingly intertwined with issues of race, class, and equity, we must acknowledge the merits of intersectional activism. It aims to promote, impede, direct, or intervene in social, political, economic, and environmental reform with the goal of making changes towards a perceived greater good.

During this year's Black History Month, we must evaluate our activism so far and appreciate how much we have been able to achieve. We must also celebrate the lives of those who have been activists from both sides of the aisle, ranging from Malcolm X to Robert Bullard, frequently called the father of Environmental Justice. In the 1970s, Bullard highlighted the disproportionate burden of pollution suffered by minority communities. He made the case that environmental issues faced by minorities are rooting in racial discrimination, and therefore should be considered environmental racism.

It’s rooted in racial discrimination in housing, land use planning and zoning. During this time, city planning and zoning placed minorities within certain lines of demarcation, which were used to segregate individuals and communities based on race and class. Housing officials deemed certain communities worthy of greenery, water lines, and paved streets while others had to do without such amenities and tolerate pollution.

There have also been other instances where Black activists have taken center stage in advocating for environmental justice, which is a major component of achieving social justice. For instance, a Black man in 1987 named Reverend Benjamin Chavis, who was in the field office for the United Church of Christ Commission for Racial Justice, came out with the famous research report called “Toxic Waste and Race in the United States.” This report is attributed with the coinage of the term “environmental racism.”

It is more than 30 years later, and the link between race and environmental hazards is far from gone. Today, an individual’s zip code is the most important factor in their physical health and wellness. With segregated neighborhoods aligning with unequal protection and pollution, environmental justice seeks to reduce disparities across multiple fields, including environmental, health, racial, and economic.

In 2021, we must acknowledge the works of the great linkage between social justice and environmental justice and work on fostering the unity of these two concepts. It is with this mindset that we have the hope of achieving the greater good for all.

As written by,

Derrick Kojo Nyamedi

Staff Writer

Image: The Ecopolitics Podcast