In our recent policy brief looking at COVID-19 and climate injustice, we found that there is overlap in communities disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and environmental justice concerns, like air pollution. Our research indicated that Black and Latinx populations have more exposure to air pollution, which puts them at greater risk for dying from COVID-19. By acknowledging these data-driven facts, policy makers can make more informed decisions for the future to appropriately remedy these injustices and protect vulnerable communities.
President Biden’s Environmental Justice Plan incorporates the science and data-inspired decision making we highlighted in our policy brief. Most notably, the Biden Administration advocates decision making driven by data and science, including reducing the burden of air pollution on marginalized communities. The Administration also aims to create an Office of Climate Change and Health Equity, suggesting a willingness to address the complex issues that look at the intersection of multiple issues. Biden issued an executive order on January 20, 2021, with a wide variety of actions protecting public health of Americans. The order includes the reduction of air pollutants and revisiting emissions standards. As explained in our brief, health inequity in the United States continues to be amplified by climate change. Policies, like these, may be beneficial towards making advances in both the climate and health crisis.
These federal actions serve as the first step in addressing the close relationship between environmental justice communities, those vulnerable to climate change risks, and health disparities. At the same time, they send a signal to states to take this mandate one step further and implement localized policy.
