Environmental justice can be described many different ways. Generally, EJ encompasses the following:
- The equitable distribution of environmental risks and benefits
- Fair and meaningful participation in environmental decision-making
EJ is for everyone, as we are all members of a community and our environment impacts all of us. Many different exposures and issues can be placed under the umbrella of EJ, such as:
- Water quality
- Air quality
- Housing
- Community health
- Food deserts
- Flooding
…to name a few. With this diversity in topics, EJ-related research tends to be interdisciplinary, calling on people with different backgrounds and skills to work together. EJ also encourages environmental stewardship, which is the idea that everyone has a responsibility to contribute to improving their local community and environment.