Press Releases

LCV Statement on White House Environmental Justice Announcements

Apr 21, 2023

Washington D.C. — In response to the Biden administration’s new environmental justice announcements, which include a new executive order, accountability tools, a new White House Office of Environmental Justice, and a new Justice40 initiative, the League of Conservation Voters issued the following statement from Vice President of Government Affairs Sara Chieffo:

“Today’s executive order is a major step towards deepening the Biden-Harris administration’s commitment to center environmental justice in their agenda and a sign the administration is listening to historically excluded communities who far too often are left out of policy discussions that most impact them. It’s critical the administration makes the explicit connection between racism and environmental injustice in communities of color and communities with low wealth disproportionately overburdened by pollution and environmental harms. 

Directing the government to consider the cumulative effects of pollution is a critical part of addressing environmental injustice, and reflects the harmful and synergistic manner in which the multiple pollution sources impacts communities living on the frontlines and along the fence lines of fossil fuels and other dirty industries. Accountability tools, like the new Environmental Justice Scorecard, will also help ensure the public knows where the administration is following through on its commitments and where more work needs to be done. 

Congress must build on the Biden-Harris administration’s Executive Order by passing the Environmental Justice for All Act as quickly as possible so that these protections are enshrined in law.”

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