California dreaming: Why environmental justice is integral to the success of climate change policy

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Pastor, Manuel; Cha, J. Mijin; Mendez, Michael; Morello-Frosch, Rachel
• 署名单位: University of Southern California; University of California System; University of California Santa Cruz; University of California System; University of California Irvine; University of California System; University of California Berkeley; University of California System; University of California Berkeley
• 刊物名称: PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0027-9521
• DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2310073121
• 发表日期: 2024-08-06
• 关键词: co-benefits; inequities; HEALTH; air; communities; INEQUALITY; residents; RACE; gap

摘要

In the realm of climate policy, issues of environmental justice (EJ) are often treated as second- order affairs compared to overarching sustainability goals. We argue that EJ is in fact critical to successfully addressing our national and global climate challenges; indeed, centering equity amplifies the voices of the diverse constituencies most impacted by climate change and that are needed to build successful coalitions that shape and advance climate change policy. We illustrate this perspective by highlighting the experience of California and the contentious processes by which EJ became integrated into the state's climate action efforts. We examine the achievements and shortcomings of California's commitment to climate justice and discuss how lessons from the Golden State are influencing the evolution of current federal climate change policy.