Apr 21, 2023 | DSCEJ General News, Research and Policy News
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 21, 2023
(New Orleans, LA) – Today, President Biden signed a new Executive Order, Revitalizing Our Nation’s Commitment to Environmental Justice for All, that will revitalize the federal government’s commitment to addressing historical environmental injustices. This executive order will establish the White House Office on Environmental Justice, which will oversee and coordinate the federal government’s efforts to address and aid communities so as to promote access to clean air and water and protect overburdened communities that have been overexposed to pollution.
“This executive order is a promise made and a promise kept by the Biden Administration. I was a part of the team that worked on the original executive order signed by President Bill Clinton in 1994. Although it was an historic step in the right direction, it lacked accountability measures to ensure its efficacy,” said Dr. Beverly Wright, Founder and Executive Director of the Deep South Center for Environmental Justice. “This new order strengthens the 1994 executive order by operationalizing and institutionalizing the recommendation within every level of the federal government. And to ensure accountability, each agency will report all progress made directly to the president. But, while today’s executive order is historic, much work must be done to achieve true environmental justice, including full implementation of Justice40 initiatives and funding the new Civilian Climate Corps to create a 21st-century energy workforce.”
Additionally, the Executive Order will:
- Strengthen engagement with communities and mobilize federal agencies to confront existing and legacy barriers and injustices;
- Promote the latest science, data, and research, including on cumulative impacts;
- Increase accountability and transparency in federal environmental justice policy;
- Honor and build on the foundation of ongoing environmental justice work.
READ THE EXECUTIVE ORDER FACT SHEET HERE
Apr 6, 2023 | DSCEJ General News, Research and Policy News
For Immediate Release
April 6, 2022
New Orleans, LA — In response to the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) proposed rule to strengthen standards that would significantly reduce hazardous air pollutants from chemical plants, specifically the cancerous chemicals that have devastated communities in Cancer Alley, Dr. Beverly Wright, Executive Director of the Deep South Center for Environmental Justice, released the following statement:
“The Deep South Center for Environmental Justice is deeply satisfied with the steps the EPA is taking to reduce the amount of deadly pollution produced by chemical plants. This proposed rule to update several regulations that apply to chemical plants requiring them to monitor levels of highly toxic and cancerous chemicals entering the air in fence-line communities is the most significant rule I have seen in my 30 years of experience working in Cancer Alley.
“For the entirety of my environmental justice career, I have never been able to comprehend how it is possible that industrial facilities are able to poison our air, water, and soil – making people sick and in some cases dying – and not be held accountable for it. The regulations have been set in a way that made it legal through the permitting process to poison us.
“For decades regulating agencies have completely abdicated their responsibility to the communities they are supposed to protect. Unfortunately, that meant generations of families losing loved ones to cancer and fighting it themselves. There is no doubt that the rule EPA is proposing today will save lives.
“During his Journey to Justice tour in Louisiana, Administrator Regan spoke directly with suffering people and saw firsthand what they go through daily. He promised to go back to Washington and do something about it. Today is the result of an administration finally listening to what communities say about how to fix this crisis. This has been and continues to be the fight of our lives, but today is a day to celebrate.”
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About the Deep South Center for Environmental Justice
Families in the Gulf Coast deserve to live in communities that are free from deadly air and are more resilient to climate change and extreme weather. The Deep South Center for Environmental Justice (DSCEJ) works to empower and engage communities to put environmental justice and equity at the center of all climate action. Led by environmental justice scholar and advocate, author, civic leader, and professor of Sociology Dr. Beverly L. Wright, the DSCEJ uses research, education, and community and student engagement to advocate for policy change, lead health and safety training for environmental careers, develop social and emotional community wellness programs, and create new and environmentally healthy opportunities for the residents of communities disproportionately impacted by historic environmental injustice
Mar 25, 2023 | Community Engagement News, Dr. Beverly Wright News, Research and Policy News
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 25, 2023
Contact: Ginger LeBlanc | gingerl@dscej.org
New Orleans, LA – In response to today’s Supreme Court’s decision weakening the EPA’s ability to enforce wetland protections, Dr. Beverly Wright, Founding Executive Director of the Deep South Center for Environmental Justice, released the following statement:
“Once again, the U.S. Supreme Court has removed an important protection in our nation. This time the target is wetlands that filter out pollutants from waterways and provide important defenses against major storms and flood events, now supercharged by climate change. In Louisiana and other coastal states, Black and other communities of color are working to preserve and protect their wetlands from projects that entail draining and cementing over them. The Supreme Court has gutted Clean Water Act protections for these wetlands and sets developers loose to destroy them. This decision is an injustice to communities across America where flood risks have been mitigated by wetlands.”
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About the Deep South Center for Environmental Justice
Families in the Gulf Coast deserve to live in communities that are free from deadly air and are more resilient to climate change and extreme weather. The Deep South Center for Environmental Justice (DSCEJ) works to empower and engage communities to put environmental justice and equity at the center of all climate action. Led by environmental justice scholar and advocate, author, civic leader and professor of Sociology Dr. Beverly L. Wright, the DSCEJ uses research, education, and community and student engagement to advocate for policy change, lead health and safety training for environmental careers, develop social and emotional community wellness programs, and create new and environmentally healthy opportunities for the residents of communities disproportionately impacted by historic environmental injustice.
Jul 28, 2022 | DSCEJ General News, Research and Policy News, The Latest News
NEW ORLEANS, LA – In response to today’s reporting on the status of the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 Dr. Beverly Wright, Executive Director of the Deep South Center for Environmental Justice, released the following statement:
“”In the Gulf Coast and across the United States, Black and other communities of color are fighting for their health and safety in the shadows of industrial polluters. Today, this fight has gained more support from Senators, but it is far from over. The Senate’s Inflation Reduction Action is one step forward on environmental justice, but it includes some steps back with tax credits for polluting industries. We are deeply concerned about the future legacy pollution that would result from these tax credits that allow the continued burning of coal, oil and gas with inherently risky carbon capture projects and new hydrogen production facilities. We need bolder action to achieve environmental and climate justice for ourselves and future generations.”
Jul 20, 2022 | DSCEJ General News, Press Releases, Research and Policy News, The Latest News
NEW ORLEANS, LA – Today, in response to President Biden announcing upcoming executive actions aimed at combating the climate crisis and extreme heat while creating clean energy jobs in offshore wind, Dr. Beverly Wright, Executive Director of the Deep South Center for Environmental Justice (DSCEJ), released the following statement:
“While DSCEJ is dismayed at Congress’ inaction to fight the climate crisis, we applaud President Biden for taking action through the executive orders announced today. In particular, President Biden announced that FEMA will double the funding to the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) program as part of Justice40, marking an important step in ensuring communities that need funding for climate and clean energy the most are the ones receiving investments. As we engage grassroots communities as part of our Justice40 commitment, we are looking forward to the opportunity to continue working with the Biden administration to ensure a just Justice40 implementation.
“In addition, the expanded investment in HHS’ Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), combined with clean energy job creation in expanded offshore wind opportunities in the Gulf Coast, will help provide much-needed short-and-long-term relief for communities of color along the Gulf Coast that have suffered the brunt of environmental injustice for far too long.
“Still, as the Gulf Coast and the rest of the country face intense heat waves this week and throughout the summer, we urge the administration to go a step further and fully declare a climate emergency in order to provide the full resources needed to make sure all climate action is in line with environmental justice goals.”
Jun 20, 2022 | DSCEJ General News, Press Releases, Research and Policy News, The Latest News
NEW ORLEANS, LA – New Orleans, LA – In response to today’s Supreme Court’s decision in the West Virginia v. EPA case, Dr. Beverly Wright, Executive Director of the Deep South Center for Environmental Justice, released the following statement:
“Today’s US Supreme Court decision is the latest in a series of egregious rulings that put millions of people at risk. By ruling that the EPA does not have the authority to regulate carbon pollution from power plants, the Supreme Court jeopardizes our health and blocks environmental justice. Black and other communities of color are disproportionately exposed to power plant pollution which causes premature deaths and worsens the climate crisis. Power plant companies have targeted communities where, on average, 52 percent of residents are Black, Indigenous, Latino, and Asian American. This preemptive strike on the EPA’s ability to reduce power plant pollution denies our right to clean air and climate action. We will continue our fight for environmental justice and equitable climate solutions.”
