Environmental Justice and the Convergence of Social Awareness and Climate Change
Gene Tanaka, Rebecca Andrews and Julia Li Address the Impact of Federal and State Environmental Justice Initiatives in Municipal Lawyer
The EPA defines “environmental justice” as the “fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, national origin, or income, with respect to the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies.” In the September-October issue of the International Municipal Lawyers Association’s Municipal Lawyer magazine, Best Best & Krieger LLP attorneys Gene Tanaka, Rebecca Andrews and Julia Li discuss the reasons why environmental justice is a rapidly emerging area of law.
The authors note that the “confluence of political pressures regarding social, economic, and legal inequities, and the growing impact of climate change have propelled EJ to the forefront” and “municipal lawyers will likely be directly affected by these developments.” They address the federal and state EJ initiatives impacting municipalities, the EPA’s lead and copper rule, and resources that are available to municipal attorneys whose communities seek to address EJ.
The entire Municipal Lawyer article can be accessed here. Reprinted with permission.
