Environmental Justice
Our environment is our home, our workplace, and the setting of all our life. However, policymakers often fail to safeguard our communities from environmental harm and instead put our neighborhoods directly in harm's way. LCLAA fights to ensure that all Latino/a/x families can live and work in safe and healthy environments.
our priorities
A Voice in Our Communities: Each time a federal agency takes on a project it can have serious implications on the job market, the culture, the livelihood, and the physical and mental health of our communities. Federal projects have historically been used to both bolster Latinos/as/xs and to segregate, exploit, and displace our communities.
This is why LCLAA calls for the following:
Strengthened protections to uphold the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and the Latino/a/x voice
Legislation to prevent legislative loopholes that strip the public of their right to voice their concerns and input
Established environmental review processes at the state and local levels to give communities a say in more government-run projects
Clean and Healthy Communities and Workplaces: All people should have safe and healthy neighborhoods, and workplaces without toxic chemicals that poison and endanger them. Unfortunately, Latino/a/x communities are more likely to suffer from unhealthy levels of pollution, and Latinos/as/xs are more likely to work in industries such as agriculture, construction, and landscaping that have an increased risk of exposure to contaminated air, water, and pesticides. As a result, Latinos/as/xs are more likely to suffer from related health conditions ranging from asthma to cancer.
This is why LCLAA calls for the following:
Full enforcement of environmental and civil rights laws and policies to protect vulnerable communities from environmental pollutants
Stronger government oversight to ban or restrict dangerous chemicals that poison our communities and workplaces
Investments in high-quality protective equipment and procedures for workers in high-risk occupations
Information to be offered in multiple languages to ensure that all workers can access crucial guidance
Increased government incentives, such as a gradual cap-and-trade policies, for the use of renewable energy by corporations and manufacturers to create a low carbon economy
Public works programs that will create union jobs to develop, carry out, and promote green infrastructure projects
Resources
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EPA Advocacy Against Chlorpyrifos _____
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Environmental Justice for Migrant Children
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us dept. of labor heat related injury report
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EPA PROPOSES BAN ON MANY USES OF DEADLY SOLVENT
podcasts
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¡Sí pudimos! The victory against Chlorpyrifos
How the EPA’s decision to ban the use of Chlorpyrifos in agriculture is a monumental victory for Latino farmworkers
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Public Involvement: A Critical Tool for Unions
How EarthJustice is utilizing the law to create good-paying union jobs and make environmental justice a reality.
OUR RELATED RESOLUTIONS
Resolution 7: “Environmental Justice for All” was adopted at the 24th National Membership Convention in support of LCLAA’s Policy Priorities on the Environment.
Resolution 2: “For a Fair and Just Recovery for Puerto Rico” in support of LCLAA’s Policy Priorities on the Environment.