The places where we live, study, work, and engage in recreation have a direct impact on our health. However, due to political, economic, and social inequalities, certain communities face greater exposure to pollution, toxic chemicals, and extreme weather conditions than others. These factors—combined with other issues present in these communities, such as those related to employment, education, and the availability of affordable housing and services—exacerbate the problem and reduce our people's life expectancy.

According to the Washington State Commission on Hispanic Affairs, Latino children in our state are 40% more likely to die from asthma than non-Latino children.

 For centuries, Indigenous communities around the world have fought against settler colonialism as a way to defend their rights to sovereignty and to conserve traditional practices to connect with nature. In this sense, they have been the leaders of what nowadays (and since the 1970s) we call Environmental Justice (EJ).

EJ is a movement to fight against the disproportionate exposure to different sources of pollution (air, water, soil) that affect Indigenous people, communities of color, and low-income populations. It also considers equal access to the benefits, such as access to nature. For example, access to nature can mean access to healthy and fresh food, green spaces, and more biodiverse spaces that have a direct influence on the quality of our air, water, and soil. 

The following video was produced by the Intersectional Environmentalist, explains what we mean by environmental justice.