The Community Builders of Color Coalition (the Coalition), led by the African American Alliance of CDFI CEOs, welcomes and applauds President Biden’s recent executive order, “Revitalizing Our Nation’s Commitment to Environmental Justice for All.” Environmental injustice has long plagued our country, with low-income communities often suffering disproportionately from the impacts of climate change and pollution. This order is an important step towards addressing these disparities and the latest in a series of pronouncements from the Administration that reinforce their commitment to ensuring every community, regardless of socioeconomic status or background, has access to clean air, clean water, and a healthy environment.
The Coalition is particularly encouraged by the Biden-Harris Administration’s whole-of-government approach, which recognizes the pursuit of environmental justice as a duty of all federal agencies. By directing federal agencies to prioritize environmental justice in their decision-making processes, this order ensures that the federal government’s efforts are coordinated, comprehensive, and effective in addressing the systemic challenges faced by communities disproportionately impacted by pollution and climate change.
The Coalition applauds the Biden-Harris Administration’s efforts to advance environmental justice through the Justice40 Initiative, the new Environmental Justice Scorecard, and new steps to combat plastic pollution. These initiatives demonstrate a genuine commitment to addressing the needs of disadvantaged communities and advancing equitable outcomes in environmental policy. We also commend the focus on scientific research, data, and transparency. By promoting the latest science, identifying, and addressing gaps in research, and making information more accessible to the public, the administration is intentionally encouraging the development of innovative technologies and practices that benefit not only the environment but also the communities that have been most adversely affected by pollution.
We commend President Biden for his leadership and vision in promoting environmental and climate justice in our country. The efforts of the administration to prioritize environmental justice will have positive, far-reaching effects for years to come, and the Coalition looks forward to being a valued partner of government as we strive to advance environmental and racial equity across the U.S.
