February is a time to reflect on the contributions of Black people throughout history, and to acknowledge the ongoing struggles continuously faced. One urgent challenge that Black communities face today is environmental racism – the unequal exposure of Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour (BIPOC) to different environmental hazards and risks. In celebrating Black History Month, it is important to highlight different organizations that are dedicated to addressing environmental racism and advancing environmental justice. This blog will highlight five organizations that are leading the charge in the fight against environmental racism while supporting Black communities.
Located in Nova Scotia, the Environmental Noxiousness, Racial Inequalities and Community Health Project (The ENRICH Project) is a community-based research and engagement project focused on environmental racism in Mi’kmaq and African communities. Established by Dr. Ingrid Waldron in 2012, the project was created to address different social, political, environmental, and health impacts brought on by environmental racism across Nova Scotian communities. The project is working to address both the distributional and procedural aspects of environmental racism in these communities. It also strives to influence new policies and legislation to promote the best practices in environmental impact assessments, citizen engagement, and fair and consistent enforcement of regulations.The efforts being made by the ENRICH Project are making important strides in raising awareness about the need for community-driven solutions and policy reforms.
Ecojustice is a Canadian environmental law charity focusing on environmental justice and has consistently addressed environmental racism. The legal team at Ecojustice works to ensure communities that are disproportionately affected by environmental hazards are provided with the legal support that is needed to fight back. Ecojustice handles cases where environmental policies and practices harm communities of colour, providing legal support to help these communities hold the polluters responsible. The organization has been challenging policies that maintain environmental harm in marginalized neighbourhoods. By utilizing legal expertise and engaging communities, Ecojustice empowers marginalized groups to demand environmental protection while holding governments and corporations accountable for their actions.
The Black Environmental Initiative
This organization promotes the environmental engagement of black communities and the environmental protection of all people, especially in low-income communities. Started in 2019, the missions of The BE Initiative are to promote environmental justice as an important priority, advocate for community-owned green investments that benefit Black and Brown communities, and expand research levels to better understand the connections between race, income and environmental risk. The BE Initiative also provides mentorship programs, educational workshops and environmental projects for Black youth to learn about sustainability and climate justice. This organization focuses on the belief that environmental issues cannot be fully addressed without including the voices of marginalized communities in both the conversation and the development of solutions.
Black Environmentalist Alliance
The Black Environmentalist Alliance (BEA) is an organization of professionals across different sectors within the environmental field, including philanthropists, entrepreneurs, academics, and government and private sector practitioners. The BEA works to amplify the voices of Black people and address the lack of Black representation in the green movement. The BEA focuses on different urban challenges like environmental justice, urban health and climate adaptation. The organization also advocates for revitalizing social infrastructure, sustainable planning, and economic growth that will not only benefit the environment, but also marginalized communities.
Urban Alliance on Race Relations
Created in 1975 by a group of Toronto citizens, The Urban Alliance on Race Relations (UARR) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting racial equity and social justice through community engagement, education and advocacy. UARR focuses on addressing the systemic issues that affect racialized Black and Indigenous populations in urban areas across Canada. UARR has a key area of focus on building awareness around environmental racism through workshops, training programs and advocacy. The Urban Alliance on Race Relations strives to ensure that racialized communities are included in the different discussions on environmental protection and sustainable urban development.
It is crucial to recognize the incredible contributions of Black communities and also address the systemic challenges that still need to be overcome. The organizations featured in this blog are leading the way in combating environmental racism and advocating for a more inclusive and sustainable future. This paves the way to ensure that everyone, regardless of race, can live in and enjoy a safe environment. Join us in supporting their efforts, continuing to make progress in our own organizations, and creating a collective movement for a more equitable world!