Addressing Environmental Injustice: A Call for Stronger Regulations in Pennsylvania
By Erin McClain, February 26, 2024
Meaningful engagement with Black residents and other frontline communities is essential to ensure that the policies proposed respect their unique needs.
As we celebrate Black History Month, it's crucial to highlight the connection between the fight for environmental justice and the health challenges confronting Black communities in Pennsylvania, notably in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia. These communities have long endured the harmful effects of environmental pollution and climate change, worsening already existing health disparities.
Recent research has illuminated the disproportionate burden shouldered by Black Americans when it comes to exposure to soot. In Pittsburgh and Philadelphia, industrial and transportation pollution often overlap with residential areas, exposing Black communities to heightened risks of respiratory and cardiovascular illnesses linked to air pollution. As in many other situations where environmental racism is allowed to flourish, pollution sources in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia have been sited near Black and low-income communities more often than white or more affluent communities due to a lack of political influence that arises from prejudice. Additionally, the impacts of climate change, such as extreme heat events and declining air quality, further endanger the health and well-being of vulnerable populations.
Studies have shown that Black populations, especially those aged 65 and older, face significantly higher risks of premature death due to soot exposure compared to other racial groups. Shockingly, Black Americans experience more than three times as many soot-attributable deaths per capita than their white counterparts, highlighting a stark racial disparity in the health impacts of air pollution.
It is clear that existing regulations and standards have failed to adequately protect Black communities from the harmful effects of environmental pollution. Despite progress in reducing pollutants like soot, racial disparities persist, highlighting the urgent need for stronger rules and regulations prioritizing environmental justice and public health. This systemic exposure disparity persists across states, urban and rural areas, income levels, and exposure levels, indicating a pervasive environmental injustice that demands urgent action.
The current administration must take decisive action to address environmental injustice and mitigate the disproportionate impacts of pollution on Black communities. This includes implementing stricter emissions controls, investing in clean energy infrastructure, and adopting policies that promote equitable access to clean air and water. Meaningful engagement with Black residents and other frontline communities is essential to ensure that the policies proposed respect their unique needs.
This Black History Month let's renew our commitment to advocating for environmental justice. By confronting environmental racism and advocating for equitable policies that prioritize the health and well-being of all residents, we can create a more just and sustainable future for Pennsylvania and beyond.
Do you want to make a change in our environment in Pennsylvania and across America? Sign this petition to finalize the strongest pollution standards by May.
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