April 22, 2024
Environmental Racism
Environmental Racism
Environmental racism remains a pressing issue in the United States, highlighted by a series of modern-day examples that underscore systemic inequalities.
Black Communities Fight for Cleaner Air in ‘Cancer Alley’
Summary
St. John the Baptist Parish, Louisiana is located in Cancer Alley, an 85-mile industrial area between New Orleans and Baton Rouge that is mostly Black. The EPA's National Air Toxics Assessment Results show that the parish has one of the highest cancer risks from air toxics. In 2016, 82-year-old Robert Taylor founded Concerned Citizens of St. John Parish to hold government and business responsible for air quality in the parish, which encompasses eight municipalities. Taylor and his family live a short walk from one of the 150 chemical and petroleum factories along the corridor, Denka Performance Elastomer, which produces chloroprene waste when making wetsuits, hoses, computer sleeves, and more. In 2010, the EPA listed chloroprene as a possible human carcinogen, and mice and rats have shown neurological, immunological, and respiratory issues. Taylor's group petitioned the EPA and the Organization of American States, filed complaints with the EPA and the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice, marched through Cancer Alley to the governor's mansion in Baton Rouge, and traveled twice to Denka's headquarters in Japan and several times to Washington, DC, to advocate for change. Nearly half of children within a 1.5-kilometer (0.94-mile) radius of the Denka factory reported headaches, nosebleeds, or both in a University Network for Human Rights health survey. More than half of adults reported headaches, dizziness, or lightheadedness. One-third or more of local adults experienced chest discomfort, heart palpitations, wheezing, and eye and skin irritation. Epidemiologist and environmental engineer Vickie Boothe, MPH, compiled data from the Metropolitan Hospital Council of New Orleans and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) showing that asthma-related emergency room visits among all parish residents are the highest in the state and third highest nationwide. Children living there are hospitalized for asthma at 2.5 times the rate in other parts of Louisiana and the US.
April 22, 2024
Climate Change
Climate Change
A lawsuit filed by a coalition of advocates and inmates against the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) over extreme temperatures in state prisons
April 22, 2024
Climate Change
Climate Change
President Joe Biden has announced the opening of applications for the American Climate Corps, aiming to enlist 20,000 individuals in its inaugural year.
April 19, 2024
Energy Justice
Energy Justice
Reuters reports that the U.S. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) will announce its plan on May 13 to expedite the development of long-distance transmission lines to accom
April 19, 2024
Environmental Justice
Environmental Justice
Over $300 million is being directed towards addressing the migrant crisis while longstanding issues of poverty in their communities have been overlooked for decades.
April 18, 2024
Climate Change
Climate Change
Newsweek reports that the National Weather Service (NWS) Climate Prediction Center forecasts a months-long drought in western Texas, exacerbating concerns about water scarcity.
April 18, 2024
Environmental Justice
Environmental Justice
The activism of Black-led environmental organizations, such as Outdoor Afro and Justice Outside, in combating environmental racism and advocating for marginalized communities
April 17, 2024
Environmental Justice
Environmental Justice
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has granted Houston an extension to utilize or reimburse $5.7 billion earmarked for Hurricane Harvey housing recovery
April 17, 2024
Climate Change
Climate Change
Efforts by the Texas Land Office and Houston City Council to locate 900 households owed relocation assistance due to the buyout of four low-income housing complexes following Hurr
April 17, 2024
Climate Change
Climate Change
A new study published in Nature revealing that climate change-induced extreme weather events could lead to a substantial reduction of approximately 19% in global income by 2050.
April 17, 2024
Environmental Justice
Environmental Justice
Daji Aswad reports on the launch of a pollution tracker by Lone Star Legal Aid, enabling Houston residents to report environmental issues directly.
April 16, 2024
Climate Change
Climate Change
FEMA's enforcement of the 50 percent rule, which mandates the rebuilding of flood-damaged homes above flood level, has sparked controversy in Lee County, Florida.
April 13, 2024
Energy Justice
Energy Justice
Yahoo Finance, delves into the natural gas surplus gripping the US, particularly in Texas.
April 12, 2024
Climate Change
Climate Change
As preparations for COP29 ramp up, the debate over the financial commitments of wealthy nations to support developing countries in decarbonization and disaster recovery intensifie
April 12, 2024
Environmental Justice
Environmental Justice
The United States Department of Justice issued an amicus brief supporting claims from a Wisconsin tribe that Enbridge's Line 5 pipeline is trespassing on tribal lands.