Robert D. Bullard plans to answer that question during a presentation at the University of Cincinnati on Nov. 5.
Bullard is an award-winning author of 18 books that cover sustainable development, environmental racism, climate justice and emergency response.
He is also the director of the Bullard Center for Environmental and Climate Justice and a distinguished professor of urban planning and environmental policy at Texas Southern University.
In his extensive publications, he attributes the perceived lack of urgency or respect for Mother Nature to limited economic means. During the Nov. 5 lecture at UC's College of Arts and Sciences, he will touch on how inequality breeds the inability to prepare for, respond to, cope with or rebound when disaster does in fact strike.
The U.S. Marine Corps veteran worked with New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina decimated the area. He also witnessed firsthand Hurricane Harvey in Houston. During the presentation, Bullard will focus primarily on how the United States is, or isn't, empowering vulnerable populations.
Dr. Robert D. Bullard, founding director of the Bullard Center for Environmental and Climate Justice at Texas Southern University and widely recognized as the “father of environmental justice,” will deliver a keynote address at the 2026 Villanova International Sustainability Conference, held October 12–15, 2026, in Rome, Italy.
This paid summer program offers hands on research, field experiences, and community-focused work centered on climate justice and equity. You will gain experience, build your resume, and connect with leaders working on urgent environmental and climate challenges.
We welcome your participation as we gather with leaders of community-based organizations and community health centers to enhance knowledge about resilience concerns, strategies and solutions.
The Bullard Center for Environmental and Climate Justice at Texas Southern University was created to ensure that this work didn’t end with one man, but instead continue to be a powerful, institutional force for justice. Today, the Center is training the next generation of environmental and climate leaders, supporting frontline communities with research and policy tools, and shifting the national narrative on environmental racism and health equity.
Join the Bullard Center at Texas Southern University and Deep South Center for Environmental Justice for the 11th Annual HBCU Climate Change Conference in New Orleans, March 18–22, 2026. This vital national conference unites HBCU faculty, students, researchers, climate professionals, and environmental justice community members to bridge academic research with real-world experiences. Engage with critical topics like climate justice, adaptation, resilience, global climate policy, sustainable transportation, clean energy, green jobs, and community-driven economic development. A highlight of the conference is youth engagement, inviting Gulf Coast high school students to explore climate science through interactive, hands-on learning and engaging simulations.
The program will open with welcome remarks from Harris County Attorney Jonathan Fombonne. Environmental justice affects every part of our community—it shapes where families live, how neighborhoods grow, and who bears the greatest burden of pollution and environmental harm.
Dr. Robert D. Bullard is Keynote Speaker at 10th Annual John W. Hatch Lecture & Symposium.
DIY Urban Planning: Empowering Public Spaces Through Community-Led Projects
Texas is a major global hub for the petrochemical industry, leading the U.S. in refining capacity and production, with the Greater Houston area accounting for over 42% of the nation's base capacity.
Dr. Robert D. Bullard will speak at Princeton University’s Dean’s Leadership Seminar on October 23 from 12:15–1:15 PM at Robertson Hall.
Join Commissioner Rodney Ellis for a powerful conversation with Dr. Robert Bullard about flooding and climate risk that affect our communities.
This month, Forbes will welcome climate leaders to New York City for “A Shared Agenda: Driving Sustainable Growth and Meaningful Change”.
This was a major national environmental justice conference hosted by the Center for Climate and Environmental Justice Media (CEJM) at UMass Boston.
This was a major, multi-day symposium titled "Memory, Medicine, and Law: Reflecting on the 20th Anniversary of Hurricane Katrina," hosted by the O'Neill Institute for National and Global Health Law at Georgetown Law.
This was a major, hybrid (in-person and virtual) event hosted by the Center for Engagement, Environmental Justice, and Health (CEEJH INC), a grassroots nonprofit national leader in the environmental justice movement.
This event is a focused discussion or conference, often hosted by an organization dedicated to civil rights and social justice like the NAACP or the Bullard Center for Environmental and Climate Justice at Texas Southern University.
This convening, hosted by TSU with an established Emergency Management and Homeland Security program—was a targeted gathering focused on disaster management through a community-centric and equity lens.
Join Dr. Robert Bullard, the father of environmental justice, for a transformative lecture titled Quest for Environmental Justice: The Challenge and Promise.
True Climate Solutions: Debunking the Hype The event, featuring Dr. Robert D. Bullard, often called the "father of environmental justice," is a panel discussion that critiques the promotion of Carbon Capture, Hydrogen, and LNG Export as primary climate solutions.
The annual Bullard Center Earth Day event at Texas Southern University (TSU) is a vital community engagement effort that links environmental education with direct action on food and social justice.
This academic event marks the 20th anniversary of the Environmental Studies program. It features a Distinguished Speaker and a Symposium to celebrate the program's history and discuss critical, current environmental challenges and solutions.
Dr. Robert D. Bullard, the "Father of Environmental Justice," has been named the 2025 Gloria Hobson Nordin Social Equity Award Honoree. The award recognizes his lifetime of work and advocacy in fighting environmental racism and advancing social equity.
Dr. Robert D. Bullard highlights how race and class determine who is exposed to pollution and advocating for a just transition to sustainable, resilient communities.
Dr. Robert D. Bullard, the "Father of Environmental Justice," is attending the Southern Environmental Law Center (SELC) Awards Event in Charlottesville, Virginia.