Mothers & Others For Clean Air deeply believes that access to clean air is an inherent human right. We acknowledge that communities of color often suffer from an unequal burden of toxic pollution. We offer the following resource to advance education and dialogue about Environmental Racism within the state of North Carolina. This is not a comprehensive list of issues, leaders, or organizations within North Carolina. Rather, this post highlights a few issues and resources, and thus encourages continued awareness and involvement with issues of environmental racism in the state. We welcome anyone to share additional resources or thoughts with us.
What does Environmental Racism Look Like in North Carolina?
Coal Ash: According to the EPA there are 900 coal ash lagoons in low income communities and communities of color in North Carolina and across the United States. There are 80,000 North Carolina residents who live within two miles of a coal ash dump and 20,000 of these are people of color. Coal ash can leak into groundwater and pollute the soil and air. Children are most vulnerable to coal ash exposure. Symptoms of exposure include: dizziness, ear, nose or throat irritation, liver or kidney damage, and cancer. To get involved and learn more about the problem of coal ash dumps in North Carolina visit the North Carolina Environmental Justice Network.
Concentrated Animal Feeding Organizations (CAFOs): North Carolina is the second largest pork producer in the United States. Most of the animal containment centers (CAFOs/IFOs) are located in communities of color. The CAFOs are primarily concentrated in North Carolina’s Coastal Plain. The waste of the hogs creates serious air quality concerns, antibiotic residues, and pathogenic bacteria. These issues negatively affect human health causing respiratory issues, bacterial diseases, and antibiotic resistant illnesses. To get involved and learn more about the problem of CAFOs in North Carolina visit the North Carolina Environmental Justice Network.
What is North Carolina’s Government Doing About Environmental Racism?
North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality : Directs the policies of the Department of Environmental Quality through Title VI and the Environmental Justice Program.
North Carolina Secretary’s Environmental Justice and Equity Board: Protecting North Carolina’s natural resources while demanding equity.
BIPOC Scientists, Academics, Lawyers, and Researchers Working on Environmental or Health Racism
There are many scientists, academics and researchers working to change the course of environmental and health racism in the state of North Carolina. The professionals highlighted below are all people of color. We offer their names as a gateway for individual or organizational research. We recognize that there are many incredible researchers whose names are not on this list. We welcome anyone to share additional names with us.
Dr. Louie Rivers: Associate Professor in the College of Natural Resources at North Carolina State University; Studies risk/judgement/decision processes of minority communities towards their natural environment.
Dr. Ryan Emanuel: Professor at North Carolina State University College of Natural Resources; Watershed, Ecosystems, Indigenous Communities
Dr. Yesenia Merino: Director of Education and Training at University of North Carolina Gillings School of Public Health; Studies structural racism in health and professional development.
To Get Involved with Environmental Racism Advocacy in North Carolina Follow & Consider Donating to These BIPOC led Organizations:
North Carolina Environmental Justice Network
“To promote health and environmental equality for all people of North Carolina through community action for clean industry, safe workplaces, and fair access to all human and natural resources. We seek to accomplish these goals through organizing, advocacy, research, and education based on principles of economic equity and democracy for all people.”
“Sol Nation is dedicated to closing the green gap by exposing along with reducing, the difference between the desire of BIPOC communities to build, as well as live in sustainable, regenerative communities; and their access to resources, power, education and infrastructure to achieve this desire.
Through this lens, Sol Nation amplifies and provides direct pathways to a just transition, resiliency, and revitalization as we move to a greener, more sustainable economy. Our goal is to provide support that strengthens the communities we serve, provide leadership training, and demonstrate how to translate climate justice through the use of creative culture, and our strengths, making way for communities to own their own solutions. We equip Black and marginalized communities with education, and resources to address climate injustice. We organize and partner with the communities we serve to develop innovative ways for resiliency, restoration, and liberation.”
