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Signature Biden Program Won’t Fix Racial Gap in Air Quality, Study Suggests

Summary

A new analysis has raised concerns about theeffectiveness of the White House's environmental justice program, Justice40, in reducing racial disparities in air quality. The program aims to direct 40% of certain federal environmental investments to disadvantaged communities but intentionally excluded race from the calculation process due to legal considerations. The study, published in Science, warns that if not implemented carefully, the program may inadvertently improve air quality in whiter, but still disadvantaged, communities faster than in communities of color, potentially widening the racial gap. The researchers emphasize that not accounting for race/ethnicity could hinder addressing disparities effectively. The Justice40 program covers billions of dollars of investments across 19 federal agencies and aims to promote environmental equity and justice.

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