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Environmental and energy justice are rooted in the belief that everyone deserves access to healthy environments, safe and affordable energy, and a meaningful voice in the decisions that affect their lives and communities. These concepts recognize that many communities have historically faced a disproportionate share of environmental harms while also experiencing barriers to accessing the benefits of clean, affordable, and reliable energy systems.

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Today, environmental and energy justice efforts focus on creating healthier, more resilient, and more equitable communities for everyone.

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What Is Environmental Justice?

Environmental justice ensures that all people, regardless of race, income, language, age, disability, or zip code, are treated fairly and meaningfully involved in environmental policies, programs, and decision-making processes.

This includes equitable access to:

• Clean air and water

• Safe and healthy housing

• Parks and green spaces

• Reliable infrastructure

• Climate resilience resources

• Environmental and public health protections

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Environmental justice also works to address historic inequities and reduce environmental burdens that disproportionately impact underserved communities.

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What Is Energy Justice and Energy Equity?

Energy justice and energy equity focus specifically on fairness within energy systems and access to energy-related benefits.

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Energy is essential to everyday life. It powers homes, schools, healthcare facilities, businesses, transportation systems, and critical community infrastructure. Yet not all households and communities experience energy systems in the same way.

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Energy justice seeks to ensure that all communities have:

• Access to safe, reliable, and affordable energy

• Opportunities to benefit from clean energy technologies

• Protection from energy-related pollution and health impacts

• Access to energy efficiency and weatherization resources

• A voice in energy planning and policy decisions

• Equitable access to funding, incentives, and workforce opportunities

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Energy equity recognizes that some communities may need additional support and investment to overcome historic barriers and achieve fair outcomes.

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Why Environmental and Energy Justice Matter

Environmental and energy challenges often overlap and compound one another.

Communities experiencing environmental burdens may also face:

• Higher utility costs

• Older or inefficient housing

• Increased health risks

• Limited transportation options

• Greater vulnerability to extreme weather

• Reduced access to clean energy technologies

• Limited ability to recover from climate-related disasters

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Environmental and energy justice efforts aim to reduce these disparities while improving quality of life, public health, affordability, and long-term community resilience.

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Who Is Most Impacted?

Environmental and energy inequities can affect many communities, particularly:

• Low-income households

• Communities of color

• Tribal and Indigenous communities

• Rural communities

• Immigrant and limited-English-proficiency communities

• Seniors, children, and individuals with disabilities

• Communities located near industrial facilities, highways, or high-pollution areas

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These impacts are often influenced by historic discriminatory policies, infrastructure investment patterns, housing conditions, and economic barriers.

 

Examples of Environmental and Energy Justice Challenges

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Climate Change and Extreme Weather

Climate change can increase risks related to:

• Extreme heat

• Flooding

• Severe storms

• Wildfire smoke

• Power outages

• Rising energy costs

Communities with fewer resources often face greater challenges preparing for and recovering from these events.

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Air Pollution and Public Health

Pollution from transportation, industry, and fossil fuel infrastructure can contribute to:

• Asthma

• Respiratory illness

• Cardiovascular disease

• Poor indoor and outdoor air quality

Communities located near highways, ports, warehouses, industrial sites, or power generation facilities may experience higher exposure levels.

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Energy Burden

Energy burden refers to the percentage of household income spent on utility costs.

Many low-income households spend a disproportionately high portion of their income on:

• Heating and cooling

• Electricity

• Water and utility services

Older homes, poor insulation, inefficient appliances, and rising energy costs can increase financial strain and impact health and comfort.

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Housing and Building Conditions

Housing quality plays a major role in both environmental and energy outcomes.

Poor housing conditions may contribute to:

• Unsafe indoor temperatures

• Mold and moisture issues

• Poor ventilation

• Higher utility costs

• Increased health risks

Investments in weatherization, energy efficiency, electrification, and healthy homes improvements can help reduce these impacts.

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Land Use and Infrastructure

Land-use decisions can influence:

• Access to transportation

• Exposure to pollution

• Flood risk

• Access to parks and green spaces

• Energy infrastructure placement

• Community connectivity and economic opportunity

Equitable planning helps ensure communities are not disproportionately burdened by environmental or energy infrastructure impacts.

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What Environmental and Energy Justice Look Like in Action

Environmental and energy justice solutions are often community-centered, collaborative, and focused on long-term resilience.

Examples include:

• Expanding access to energy efficiency and weatherization programs

• Supporting affordable clean energy adoption

• Improving indoor air quality and healthy housing conditions

• Investing in community resilience and emergency preparedness

• Expanding public transit and clean transportation options

• Increasing tree canopy and green infrastructure

• Reducing pollution exposure

• Improving language access and accessibility

• Supporting workforce development and local job creation

• Ensuring meaningful community engagement in planning and decision-making

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Building a More Equitable and Resilient Future

Environmental and energy justice are about more than reducing harm, they are about creating opportunities for healthier, safer, and more sustainable communities.

By working together across communities, organizations, industries, and governments, we can help build systems that are equitable, resilient, and responsive to the needs of all people…today and for future generations.