Do you really know? What is environmental racism?
Aug 28, 2025
Dive into the concept of environmental racism and discover how marginalized communities bear the brunt of climate issues. The discussion highlights the stark disparities in pollution exposure and health outcomes, with examples including the Flint water crisis. The podcast also sheds light on the global implications of systemic inequalities, particularly how developing nations are impacted by e-waste. In just a few minutes, gain insight into the intersection of environmental challenges and social justice.
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Unequal Burden Of Climate Harm
- Climate impacts are uneven, hitting developing countries and southern-hemisphere communities harder despite lower emissions.
- Industrialised nations contributed more to warming, creating a global justice imbalance.
Environmental Harm Within Rich Countries
- Environmental harms also concentrate within wealthy countries among low-income and ethnic-minority communities.
- Factors include colonial exploitation, discriminatory regulations and policymaking.
Origin Of The Term
- The term environmental racism was coined by Benjamin Chavis in 1982 and ties to the 1970s–80s environmental justice movement.
- This historical origin links civil-rights activism to modern environmental concerns.