The Problem: Unhealthy and Discriminatory Land Use Patterns
Land use planning and zoning policies and practices have perpetuated environmental racism by concentrating environmental hazards in environmental justice (EJ) communities, essentially designating them as sacrifice zones for the benefit of more affluent (whiter and wealthier) neighborhoods who have more resources to block such hazards from their areas. EJ communities across California – predominantly low-income and communities of color – are also known as Frontline communities and face a disproportionate burden of the harms caused by land use policy and zoning practices that have placed polluting industries in the middle of our neighborhoods. Living on the frontlines, often literally sharing a fenceline with polluting industries, exposes the surrounding environment to toxins, harming the health of individuals and communities in their homes, schools, parks, neighborhoods, places of worship, and workplaces.
The Vision: What does a future with equitable land use look like?
- People re-imagine land use practices to support stewardship of the land and communities, based in equity and social justice.
- Everyone lives in and has access to green and healthy communities.
- Equitable development practices just reflect the values of environmental justice (EJ), including clean air, healthy and affordable housing, and healthy neighborhoods.
- The economy is regenerative, and supports healing the land and people.
- Land use policies and practices are based in democratic principles where we build community-led projects that serve people’s needs, improve health outcomes, and redress the harms of the many intersecting socio-economic crises facing EJ communities.
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People re-imagine land use practices to support stewardship of the land and communities, based in equity and social justice.
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Everyone lives in and has access to green and healthy communities.
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Equitable development practices just reflect the values of environmental justice (EJ), including clean air, healthy and affordable housing, and healthy neighborhoods.
-
The economy is regenerative, and supports healing the land and people.
-
Land use policies and practices are based in democratic principles where we build community-led projects that serve people’s needs, improve health outcomes, and redress the harms of the many intersecting socio-economic crises facing EJ communities.
Our Approach:
- We work alongside environmental justice communities to uplift their comprehensive, solution-oriented, and collaborative visions of the future for their neighborhoods.
- We utilize comprehensive approaches based on principles of justice and sustainability, to evaluate cumulative impacts and unhealthy land use planning.
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We work alongside environmental justice communities to uplift their comprehensive, solution-oriented, and collaborative visions of the future for their neighborhoods.
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We utilize comprehensive approaches based on principles of justice and sustainability, to evaluate cumulative impacts and unhealthy land use planning.
