Loew, T. (2025, September 9). Oregon DEQ fines Stella-Jones more than $1 million for environmental violations. Salem Statesman Journal.

https://www.statesmanjournal.com/

This article reports that the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality fined the wood-treating company Stella-Jones over $1 million for repeated violations involving hazardous waste handling, water quality, and spill response. Pollution from the facility threatened the South Yamhill River, a drinking water source for approximately 6,00 residents. It was found that the company likely mishandled hazardous waste, including the carcinogenic chemical pentachlorophenol (PCP), and illegally sent hazardous materials to landfills not permitted to accept them. In addition to the large DEQ fine, Stella-Jones also faced penalties from the Oregon Department of Justice and the U.S. EPA, including criminal charges and civil penalties. The enforcement action requires the company to upgrade monitoring systems, improve stormwater treatment, and revise operational plans to prevent future contamination.

The article reflects the themes of climate justice and environmental racism by showing how environmental harm disproportionately threatens local communities that rely on shared natural resources for survival. Pollution from Stella-Jones endangered the South Yamhill River, a drinking water source for thousands, illustrating how corporate negligence places public health at risk while companies benefit economically. Although the article doesn’t explicitly frame the affected communities in racial terms, it mirrors patterns of environmental racism in which marginalized or less politically powerful communities bear the most severe consequences of toxic industries. The case demonstrates a core principle of justice, namely the idea that those least responsible for environmental harm often face the greatest risks, reinforcing the need for accountability and equitable enforcement of environmental laws.

Dulani, J. (2025, September 20). Big Tech data centers compound decades of environmental racism in the South. Truthout.

https://truthout.org/articles/big-tech-data-centers-compound-decades-of-environmental-racism-in-the-south/

This article examines how the rapid construction of AI data centers by Big Tech companies across the American South intensifies existing environmental racism and harms predominantly Black, low-income communities. The author explains that data centers consume massive amounts of energy and water, often powered by fossil fuels, and are being sited in structurally disempowered areas with little oversight or community feedback. In Memphis, Tennessee, a data center near a historically Black neighborhood has significantly increased air pollution, contributing to asthma and other health problems, while multiple facilities in Louisiana and Georgia worsen pollution and divert public resources through tax breaks. The piece highlights how these developments follow a pattern similar to “Cancer Alley,” where industrial pollution has already inflicted decades of harm, and argues that economic incentives that benefit corporations often at the expense of the health and well-being of marginalized residents. It also describes growing community resistance to data center projects, showing how local activism is pushing back against environmental injustices rooted in race and class.

In this article, Jai Dulani argues that the expansion of AI data centers by companies such as xAI and Meta deepens environmental racism and undermines environmental justice in the U.S. South. He explains that these facilities consume enormous amounts of energy and water, are heavily reliant on fossil fuels, and are disproportionately located in Black and low-income communities already burdened by pollution. Dulani highlights increased nitrogen dioxide levels and respiratory illnesses near the xAI site in Memphis and connects these harms to a long history of environmental racism, including the much discussed “Cancer Alley.” He also emphasizes community resistance as a call for accountability, equity, and the right to a healthy environment.

Amnesty International. (2025, November). What is COP and why is this year’s meeting in Brazil so important? Amnesty International.

https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/campaigns/2025/11/what-is-cop-and-why-is-this-years-meeting-in-brazil-so-important/

This article explains the significance of COP 30, an annual UN conference that was held in Belem, Brazil, at a moment of heightened global urgency. The article emphasizes that COP 30 is the first conference held since the world surpasses the 1.5°C warming threshold, underscoring the need for immediate climate action. Amnesty International frames climate change as a human rights issue, highlighting how frontline and fenceline communities, often marginalized and racialized, are forced to face disproportionate harm from fossil fuel extraction, pollution, and climate disasters. The article also stresses the need from grant-based climate finance rather than loans, arguing that low-income countries should not be pushed deeper into debt for a crisis they did not cause.

This article strongly reflects the ideas of climate justice and environmental racism by showing how the impacts of climate change fall unevenly across the globe. An example of this is how indigenous communities in Brazil are facing direct threats from fossil fuel drilling in the Amazon without meaningful consultation, illustrating how economic interests override human rights. The discussion of Pakistan further demonstrates global inequity, as the country makes up a very small portion of global emissions yet suffers devastating climate disasters while receiving mostly high-interest loans for recovery. Overall, the article reinforces the idea that effective climate action should prioritize human rights, protect

Guevara, S. (2025, October 17). WE ACT joins over 100 environmental organizations in condemning Environmental Protection Agency’s plan to revoke a crucial climate pollution regulation provision. Columbia Daily Spectator.

https://www.columbiaspectator.com/

With the growing impacts of climate change, environmental justice organizations are concerned about how federal policy decisions may make pollution even worse in already vulnerable communities. This article specifically focuses on how WE ACT for Environmental Justice and more than 100 organizations opposed the EPA’s proposal to revoke the 2009 Endangerment Finding, which legally requires at least some regulation of greenhouse gas emissions under the Clean Air Act. The Endangerment Finding forms the basis for major climate regulations affecting vehicles, power plants, and industrial facilities. Some critics argue that rescinding it would remove the federal government’s ability to regulate greenhouse gas emissions, leading to increased pollution nationwide. The article highlights how neighborhoods such as West Harlem already have high levels of vehicle-related air pollution, disproportionately affecting Black and Hispanic residents. Environmental Justice advocates warn the weakening these regulations would further endanger communities that already bear the greatest health burdens from climate change and pollution.

The article demonstrates how environmental racism is deeply connected to policy decisions at the federal level. Communities of color are often intentionally located near highways, industrial sites, and other major pollution sources due to historical housing discrimination and urban planning practices. Rolling back such climate regulations would allow industries to increase emissions, worsening air quality in these areas and likely increasing rates of asthma, heart disease, and other health issues. The article reinforces the idea that climate change does not impact all communities equally and that race and zip code often determine environmental risk. The article shows the importance of climate justice by emphasizing that effective enforcement policies must protect the communities most affected by pollution rather than prioritizing economic savings over public health.

 Southern Environmental Law Center. (2025, Fall). Environmental racism and the legacy of slavery in the American South [Interview feature]. EBONY.

https://www.ebony.com/

The article examines how historical systems of slavery, segregation, and discriminatory land policies have directly shaped modern environmental racism in the southern United States. Through the work of the Southern Environmental Law center, the article connects plantation-era land use to present-day pollution, showing how Black communities are disproportionately exposed to toxic air, contaminated water, and various hazardous industrial facilities. Featuring voices from North and South Carolina and insights from SELC attorney Chandra Taylor, the piece explains how redlining, zoning laws, and industrial siting have concentrated environmental harm in predominantly Black neighborhoods. The article also highlights present-day examples, such as South Memphis, where methane-powered turbines tied to a data center release harmful emissions into a community already suffering from poor air quality.

The article powerfully illustrates that environmental injustice in the United States is not accidental, but rather the result of deeply rooted historical decisions that continue to affect marginalized communities today. I found it especially impactful how the article framed pollution as a form of inheritance, one passed down through generations just like land, but far more damaging. It made clear that the economic development and technological progress often come at the expense of African American communities, who are expected to bear the health consequences without consent. The discussion of the EPA’s environmental justice offices potentially being dismantled was particularly troubling, as it shows how policy decisions can reverse decades of progress. Overall, the article reinforces the idea that environmental justice is ultimately inseparable from racial justice, and acknowledging history is essential if the United States hopes to move toward healthier, more equitable communities.

Climate Change and the Health of Indigenous Populations. (2024). Retrieved from https://www.epa.gov/climateimpacts/climate-change-and-health-indigenous-populations 

Indigenous communities/reservations are also victims of environmental racism in the United States. Native Americans have higher rates of asthma and other medical conditions. Contaminated drinking water impacts reservations (ie. Fort Apache in Arizona) and causes disease and diarrhea in infants at high rates. Climate change also impacts Indigenous populations with rising water temperatures causing sickness by swimming, drinking, or fishing it. Climate change is worsening the historical trauma of racism for Native Americans. Many tribes have lost land mass to climate change, separating communities, families, and ethnic groups. Climate change impacts the respiratory health of residents, access to food, mental health, and more.

Although such climate issues may be heightened because of the living circumstances of Native Americans, the issues described are soon to impact all people on Earth on a similar level, I think. I fear that we aren’t taking enough political action to protect or aid those affected or to mitigate those who will soon be in the future. On certain reservations facing environmental hazards based on the actions of the U.S. government/businesses, there is no adequate action taken. Again, I am disappointed and saddened by what I read. This article relates to environmental science because a lot of what Native populations are facing is a direct result of human-induced global warming. We need to use what we know from environmental science to help change the world!

Miller, J. (2024). From environmental racism to environmental justice. Retrieved from https://njsbf.org/2024/08/13/from-environmental-racism-to-environmental-justice/ 

The term “environmental racism” was created by Dr. Ben Chavis in 1982 when there was illegal dumping in a 60% Black North Carolina neighborhood. According to the EPA, Black children are 2 times more likely to go to the hospital for asthma than White children, exhibiting the impacts of environmental racism in statistics. Redlining forced Black people to move into hazardous neighborhoods, with impacts still seen today. Lack of regulation doesn’t only impact Black people but lower-income communities in general. The creation of highways also has a racist history by being built through thriving Black communities to mitigate their success, naming systemic racism’s connection to environmental justice. Throughout the years more efforts have been made in environmental justice, like the 2024 bill that attempts to restore the communities that were destroyed by said highways.

With a greater context of environmental racism in the United States, I became more angry with such a hateful and discriminatory history in the USA. Often when I think of environmental racism I think of fossil fuels and climate change, but this article helped me to understand the agricultural aspect of it (with highways). This is related to environmental science because such studies have helped us understand the impacts of human technological developments and how to reverse some of the damage done. Environmental science with political action will help us to better our society.

Staff, W. by    NewsOne. (2024). 10 modern-day examples of environmental racism. Retrieved from https://newsone.com/5175547/environmental-racism-earth-day/ 

This article names 10 examples of the impacts of environmental racism. In Flint, Michigan lead-contaminated water in a predominately Black city caused negative health problems that took many efforts to create sufficient action to avoid similar incidents. Similarly in Jackson, Mississippi (85.5% Black) residents struggle with access to clean drinking water (E.coli, etc). In Detroit due to air pollution residents face lung issues affecting children, pregnant women, and more. They list many other examples in California, North Carolina, Alabama, Florida, New York, Louisiana, etc that cause land, air, and water pollution seriously impacting the health of residents. They presented statistics of overwhelming numbers of asthma and more in these communities as a result of such living conditions.

It was sad to read this article, especially imagining the individuals impacted by such realities. Although each case has shined more light onto the issue of environmental racism, there was little mention of the political efforts taken to improve these situations. You’d think society has progressed enough to avoid such clear racist societal issues or that access to clean drinking water in America would be nationally accessible, but I guess not. We have a long way to go in sustainability because even if these issues stop affecting Black communities, they will most likely affect someone one. No one should have to deal with this.