Introduction to Environmental Justice

What is environmental justice?

This is the question asked during the February 13, 2019, meeting of professional learning providers on the California Environmental Literacy Initiative (CAELI) leadership council. This small group decided to dig in and learn more through readings, viewings, discussions, conferences, and interviews with leaders who are activists, educators, and community-builders. Working with Youth Outside, environmental justice then became the focus of CAELI's meeting on May 20, 2019. Those efforts led to this April 21, 2020 charrette, which brings together California Subject Matter Project leaders to continue exploration of the question while planning to address environmental justice in the professional learning programs that are offered across the disciplines and throughout the state.

We thank you for being here, for helping us to understand and grow in our learning, and for joining us in our efforts to provide environmental education and social justice for all students in California.

Environmental Justice Principles

Delegates to the First National People of Color Environmental Leadership Summit held on October 24-27, 1991, in Washington DC, drafted and adopted these 17 principles of Environmental Justice. Since then, the Principles have served as a defining document for the growing grassroots movement for environmental justice.

EJ Principles (1991).pdf

Intersections & Environmental Justice

How do we ensure that our youth emerge from their studies with an understanding of the intersection between our social, economic, cultural, political, and environmental status in society? How do we teach them their role as influencers of what’s happening in their environment, now and in the future? (NAACP)

Teaching Intersectionality and Environmental Justice in Our Classrooms FINAL.pdf

EJ and History-Social Science

The August 2019 issue of The Source, published by the California History-Social Science Project, features an article by Dr. Shelley Brooks about environmental justice -- what it is and how it relates to the History-Social Science classroom. Visit the CHSSP website to download entire issue or read Dr. Brooks's article below.

EJ Source Magazine article.pdf

Environmental Justice

This 27-minute video presented by EcoSense for Living (2018, PBS) provides perspectives on issues associated with climate change and highlights misconceptions. Speakers address the need for inclusion, human rights, privilege, and action.

Exploring Climate Justice

Climate justice “insists on a shift from a discourse on greenhouse gases and melting ice caps into a civil rights movement with the people and communities most vulnerable to climate impacts at its heart,” said Mary Robinson in an interview. Read more at the UN SDG website here.

Environmental Literacy & Justice

The California Environmental Literacy Initiative meeting in May 2019 focused on environmental literacy and justice. Read the Ten Strands blog article about this meeting here, written by UC Davis graduate student DeeDee Chao.

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