As the world warms, and as communities across the globe organize to address widespread environmental damage, the issue of environmental justice has gained new urgency. A toxic mix of politics, economics and racism means that the damage done by pollution often weighs most heavily on the world’s most vulnerable communities. Environmental justice efforts target the root causes of the damage, identify its disparate impacts, and chart paths to restoration. Environmental justice is fueled by empowered communities that have the skills and knowledge to identify environmental risks, hold polluters accountable, and work with stakeholders to improve the health of residents and communities.
Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations, or CAFOs, generate a tremendous amount of livestock feces and waste. In North Carolina, hog CAFOs are clustered in low-income, minority communities, with untreated hog waste seeping into the surrounding air and drinking water. They can also release harsh, burning odors that severely degrade everyday quality-of-life. Stricter limits on the number of animals in a certain area, rigorous air monitoring of CAFO emissions, and enforcing better practices for spreading animal waste can protect the everyday and long-term health of impacted communities.
Support the targeting of pollution sources to reduce the inordinate health burdens borne by low-income communities, indigenous peoples, and communities of color.
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Advocate for the strengthening and enforcement of environmental and health policies that limit the factors contributing to the disproportionate impact of air pollution and climate change exposure in affected communities. Take Action Now >>
Actively seek the involvement of BIPOC and low-income communities in decisions and action that affect their communities and quality of life.
