Environmental Racism: Analysis of Economic and Political Context and Solutions

Environmental Racism: Analysis of Economic and Political Context and Solutions
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Environmental Racism: Analysis of Economic and Political Context and Solutions
Introduction
Environmental racism is one of the most heinous impacts of environmental pollution with underlying political stimulants; this environmental menace involves systemic exposure of marginalized communities to toxic pollutants. Although political motives constitute a significant stimulant for environmental pollution, its economic impact on marginalized communities is also apparent. Discriminatory politics and policymaking and enforcement of biased environmental laws expose ethnic minorities to severe health and economic consequence in a deliberate attempt to subdue a segment of the population (Beech, 2020). The intrinsic relationship between environmental racism is politics is obvious; however, the sway of economic factors is of no lesser significance in the whole scenario. According to scholars, other than race, the socioeconomic status of a locality also plays crucial in increasing the chances of environmental racism, as regions of low socioeconomic status are more than likely to suffer from this menace (Bullard, 2020).
Exposing these neighbourhoods to toxic waste also decreases the economic efficiency of the people by compromising their social benefits and profile (Willers, 1996). In America, the problem of environmental racism and its link to a lack of political will is apparent, as indicated by the excessive exposure of minority communities living in Houston, Texas, to hazardous pollutants (Bullard, 2020). Similarly, according to another credible report, more than 75% of black Americans are more than likely to suffer from the health and economic hazards of environmental racism as they live in proximity to oil and gas facilities (Garza, 2021). In view of these facts, this essay aims to explore the relationship between politics and environmental racism, highlighting how this relationship exposes ethnic minorities to environmental hazards, such as landfills. Moreover, this discussion also evaluates the economic and health impact of environmental racism on the people of marginalized communities with an aim to provide solutions using various economic approaches.
Environmental Racism: The Relationship with Politics
Several credible research studies have exposed the political and social factors behind environmental racism; according to The United Church of Christ's (1987) Report, the number of hazardous facilities installed in the neighbourhood of people of colour is double the number of same facilities in a white neighbourhood. This study also verified using statistics and facts that race is a crucial factor (Bryant & Mohai, 2019). In this regard, scholars argue that despite the economic factor that forces poor people of colour to live in polluted neighborhoods, the role of politics in aggravating their problems is instrumental. Since people of colour usually have low socioeconomic status, they exercise little political clout; moreover, industrialists tend to avoid any form of political confrontation and select these regions as they offe...