Know Justice for Peace:

Environmental Justice

Berneta HaynesAssociate Attorney

Southern Environmental Law Center

Basic Structure of Law

Statutes Regulations Executive Orders

Example: Civil Rights

Act

Example:National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS)

Example: Executive Order 12898

Statutes Relevant to Environmental Justice

• Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)

• The Sunshine Act

Public Administrati

on Laws

• The Civil Rights Act (Title VI)

Civil Rights Laws

• NEPA• CAA• CWA

Environmental Laws

What’s the Purpose of Environmental Statutes and Regulations?

Steam and smoke rise from the cooling towers and chimneys of a power plant in coal-heavy West Virginia, US. Photograph: Robb Kendrick/NG/Corbis

Environmental laws focus on our actions toward the environment and address pollution and public

health concerns.

Important Environmental Statutes:

National Environmen

tal Policy Act (NEPA)

Clean Air Act (CAA)

Clean Water Act

(CWA)

A Myriad of Issues, A Myriad of Laws: Pinpointing an Issue that Interests You

and Sticking With It

Image Courtesy of GlobalEnvironments.Org

Solar Energy and Environmental Justice

Image Courtesy of ZME Science

Polluting Sources of Electricity What is Solar Energy?

Connecting Environmental Justice and Solar Energy

Diverse Coalition of PartnersPredominately Low-Income and African-American CommunityPowering HomesJob Training and Job Creation

Case Study: Shiloh Temple International Ministries Community

Solar Garden

Discussion and Activity

What local environmental issue (past or present) has affected you or your community?