By Emily Chen, Policy Fellow, Urban Manufacturing Alliance
 

Historical manufacturing enterprises have left a legacy of pollution in their communities, leading to long-lasting environmental degradation and pervasive public health impacts. But not all residents are impacted equally; because polluting facilities are more likely to be located in communities of color and/or low-income communities, and because these residents have less political or economic power to fight back, already marginalized populations are often the most impacted by environmental harms. 

As we look towards a more green, sustainable, and resilient future, it is important not to forget these past harms. Though industries might have moved on, many marginalized communities still suffer from the environmental damage they left behind. Remediating historic environmental inequalities is an important part of moving towards a future that is more sustainable for people and the planet. The Biden-Harris administration has clearly demonstrated their commitment to a Just Transition by positioning the federal government to lead climate and environmental justice efforts.

The administration’s most noteworthy action has been the creation of the Justice40 initiative, a government-wide commitment to promoting environmental justice. The initiative was created through Executive Order 14008 on Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad, signed during Biden’s very first days in office, then solidified a government-wide plan in Executive Order 14096, Revitalizing Our Nation’s Commitment to Environmental Justice for All. Not since Bill Clinton signed Executive Order 12898 30 years ago, directing all federal agencies to identify and address disproportionate environmental harms of their programs and actions, has the executive branch given such strong and overarching direction on remedying environmental injustices.

Justice40 does not merely represent a commitment to environmental justice, but specifically directs a huge amount of federal funding to programs that will benefit impacted communities. The Justice40 Initiative requires that 40% of benefits from federal investments in seven focus areas must flow to “disadvantaged communities that are marginalized by underinvestment and overburdened by pollution.” The seven categories of projects are wide-ranging and include climate change, clean energy and energy efficiency, clean transit, affordable and sustainable housing, training and workforce development, remediation and reduction of legacy pollution, and the development of critical clean water and wastewater infrastructure. Disadvantaged communities are also defined quite broadly. Guidance is given to federal agencies as to how to identify a ‘disadvantaged community,’ directing agencies to consider factors such as: 

• Demographic factors like income, unemployment, and racial/ethnic residential segregation
• “Burdens,” including energy cost burden, housing cost burden, transportation cost burden, etc.
• Impacts from climate change and jobs lost in the energy transition

Executive Order 14096 also created The Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool, a comprehensive mapping tool that shows all communities considered “disadvantaged” under Justice40 definitions. This tool is not only helpful for agencies identifying places where their work falls under the requirements but can also be used by communities looking to see if they are eligible for funding and/or priority consideration. 

In addition to these investment requirements, programs covered by Justice40 must also engage in meaningful stakeholder engagement with affected communities and report data on benefits flowing to communities. Overall, Justice40 represents a comprehensive and actionable plan to ensure that communities impacted by environmental harms and marginalized by demographic factors are given the federal support they need to achieve economic and climate justice goals. 16 major federal agencies have already released extensive lists of their programs covered under Justice40.

Massive funding for climate change adaptation and mitigation is also flowing into communities because of Justice40. The Biden-Harris Administration has made historic commitments to climate action through the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) of 2022 and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) of 2021, also known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. These two pieces of legislation together dedicate over half a trillion dollars to supporting clean energy, transportation, and climate. And since the programs created under IRA and IIJA fall under Justice40 requirements, 40% of those dollars must go towards benefitting disadvantaged communities. For an overview of EJ-related climate funding sources and their definitions of “disadvantaged communities,” see this resource by UMA.

Highlight: Justice 40 – covered climate programs

Major EJ Initiatives

• Environmental and Climate Justice Program – $30 billion for financial and technical assistance for EJ programs delivered by NGOs, local governments, and partnerships serving EJ communities. Potential uses include capacity building, workforce development, environmental monitoring, and more. Subgrant applications opening in fall 2024.
• Tribal/Native Hawaiian Climate Resilience – $250 million for Tribal nations and organizations to address climate impacts and build resilience capacity. Funding categories for this year include planning, implementation, and relocation/managed retreat. 2024 awards open until October; funding opportunities annually.
• Project highlight: A $500,000 grant from the Environmental and Climate Justice Program was awarded to Accompanying Returning Citizens with Hope (Columbus, OH). ARCH will support individuals reentering the workforce society after serving prison terms through their Reentry Solar workforce program. The program connects workers with secure employment on low-cost clean energy solar projects for nonprofits in Columbus, Ohio, which aims to reduce 7,000,000 metric tons of CO2 emissions over 20 years.

Clean and Just Manufacturing

• Clean Ports – $3 billion for zero-emission technology deployment, climate and air quality planning around US ports. 
• Pollution Prevention – $14 million for work in one of the six established NEAs: food and beverage manufacturing and processing; chemical manufacturing, processing and formulation; automotive manufacturing and maintenance; aerospace product and parts manufacturing and maintenance; metal manufacturing and fabrication; and Indian Country and Alaska native villages. Bi-annual awards, with recent 2024-2025 awards announced in fall 2024.
• Project highlight: A $350,000 Pollution Prevention grant is supporting the University of Massachusetts, Boston in developing a technical assistance program for craft breweries in Massachusetts that are implementing pollution prevention strategies. Technical assistance will involve establishing a baseline of current costs and environmental performance and estimating savings and improvements that can be realized when facilities adopt and implement P2 practices.

Justice40, IRA, and IIJA represent historic investments in climate and environmental justice. The federal government has opened up avenues to support a just transition that addresses the inequities of the past while looking towards a green future. Stakeholders at all levels – from community-based organizations to research institutions, to state governments to industry partners – must seize these opportunities and maintain their focus on community outcomes in order to secure a future that is truly sustainable for the environment, the economy, and communities. 

We must make sure all communities, especially those most impacted by past harms, have the resources and support they need to move towards a vision of the future that is just, equitable, and green. The Biden-Harris Administration has made their commitment towards environmental justice clear with Justice40 and their climate funding programs. Now let’s focus on implementation and making that vision a reality.

Emily Chen is currently living in the Boston area pursuing a Masters in Environmental Policy and Planning at Tufts University. She hoping to take on public sector climate justice work after graduation. When asked about why she applied to be a UMA fellow she said. “I believe in the importance of localized initiatives and place-based work when striving to create truly sustainable and thriving communities. I’m also interested in the role that industry partners – especially local firms – can play in promoting economic and environmental progress, and was drawn to UMA’s diverse and impactful work with manufacturer partners.”