Black Coral Inc is launching its Green Space Boston Programs this month, focusing on urban gardening and tree planting! But what is the significance of being surrounded by greenery for mental well-being? Trees protect health and lower bills and planting them in tree-poor BIPOC communities can have powerful benefits.
Industrial pollution has sickened and poisoned Black communities for decades. Environmental justice experts have a solution to stop this. Most ethnically nonwhite communities have really low amounts of vegetation and experience extremely high urban heat island impacts, most are significantly hotter in one place than the other because of the investment [in green spaces] that one community received, and the others historically have not. Trees sequester carbon, improve air quality, and help absorb water when storms hit. In fact, in cities like Boston MA planting a tree on a busy stretch of sidewalk in a dense urban residential area, could have even greater benefits, according to new research.
It is widely recognized that increased access to natural environments offers numerous advantages, including enhanced cognitive function, lower blood pressure, better mental health, increased physical activity, and improved sleep. Across the United States, neighborhoods with minority populations have 40% less tree canopy and 25% more man-made surfaces, like asphalt and cement, compared to neighborhoods with majority white populations. This inequity is most pronounced in the northeastern U.S., where cities often have densely populated minority neighborhoods that are systematically overlooked, in contrast to the greener suburbs predominantly inhabited by white communities. Frequently, funds earmarked for the improvement of BIPOC communities are diverted to other areas through legislation that favors those communities, leaving communities of color dependent on programs with unstable funding.
In white neighborhoods across the U.S., increased tree coverage is associated with 200-300 fewer deaths, 30,000 fewer medical visits, and 1.5 terawatt hours of reduced electricity consumption annually compared to minority areas. Researchers estimate that strategic tree planting in the most needed areas could prevent an additional 500 heat-related deaths and 80,000 heat-related illnesses, and save an extra 4-5 terawatt hours of electricity each year.
The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) is a law mandating federal agencies to assess the environmental impacts of proposed projects, such as the construction of major highways, prisons, airports, pipelines, landfills, and refineries. Enacted by Congress in 1969, NEPA, along with the subsequent Clean Air and Water Acts, formed part of a comprehensive strategy to safeguard the environment against any point source of pollution or contamination. However, during the late 1960s and '70s, when these environmental laws were established, the connection between racism and environmental issues was not widely recognized. Consequently, the absence of civil rights protections in NEPA led to the continued marginalization and disenfranchisement of Black communities throughout the nation.
However, with the emergence of the environmental justice movement in the late 1970s, Black environmentalists and policy experts started proposing more robust environmental regulations inspired by the 1964 Civil Rights Act. The aim was to safeguard marginalized communities from discriminatory policies that could worsen their social and environmental challenges. Groups such as Black Coral Inc. org are carrying on this tradition by combating the impacts of climate change and human-induced environmental hazards.
The birth of the environmental justice movement started with Black people!
Environmental injustice is a pressing issue that highlights the unequal distribution of environmental burdens in society, particularly affecting low-income communities and communities of color. These marginalized groups often bear the brunt of the detrimental impacts of climate change, stemming from the disproportionate exposure to fossil fuel pollution and the resulting consequences such as extreme heatwaves and severe flooding.
The systemic inequality originates from historical injustices and institutional racism, which have sustained environmental disparities across generations. Communities affected by environmental injustice not only experience immediate health hazards due to pollution and climate-related catastrophes but also bear enduring effects like economic insecurity and restricted resource availability. The insufficient infrastructure and resources in these regions worsen residents' vulnerability, hindering their ability to cope with and rebound from environmental adversities.
Systemic injustices have existed in America for a long time. However, there is an increasing scientific recognition and resistance to these inequalities. Environmental advocacy organizations have historically been predominantly white, prioritizing nature preservation over community well-being. Only recently have major environmental groups started to confront their history of racism. Following the widespread protests for racial justice last summer, the Sierra Club, for instance, issued a statement recognizing its contribution to upholding white supremacy within the movement.
Addressing environmental injustice requires a comprehensive approach involving policy changes, community empowerment, and advocacy. By rectifying systemic factors contributing to disparities, we can create a more equitable and sustainable future for all, regardless of socioeconomic status or race.
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