EPA Continues Federal Progress on Environmental Justice with New Department of Environmental Justice

(WASHINGTON — Sept. 24, 2022) “This monumental move to create a new Office of Environmental Justice at Environmental Protection Agency is long overdue. During my time at EPA, I saw the enormous potential that federal attention and resources can have for environmental justice efforts. This development is an important step to mobilize work at every level to achieve a more just future.

“The climate crisis demands us to sharpen our commitment to environmental action and — crucially — to invest in the communities most affected by environmental degradation and disaster. With this new department, EPA is filling key gaps and taking a major stride in supporting and protecting every community, especially the communities to which the environmental movement is indebted.”

• Dr. Margot Brown, Environmental Defense Fund

“Environmental justice starts and ends with communities. The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, Justice 40, and the Inflation Reduction Act have created generational opportunities to build a resilient, equitable future for our communities. A department of environmental justice within the EPA is a key development to seize this moment and revitalize the agency’s commitment to the people and communities at the forefront of the climate crisis.”

• Heather McTeer Toney, Vice President of Community Engagement at Environmental Defense Fund