Earlier today, Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell of Massachusetts, together with Representative Brandy Fluker Oakley (D-Mattapan) and Senator Adam Gomez (D-Springfield), filed legislation to establish the Environmental Justice Trust Fund. The fund aims to provide resources for projects designed to combat environmental injustices disproportionately affecting vulnerable communities within the state according to Mass Gov.
As mentioned in the press release, the primary intention behind the justice trust is to ensure that Massachusetts addresses the disparities that continue to disadvantage certain communities. The fund would provide a useful tool in the battle against inequality, connecting communities with necessary resources.
The Environmental Justice Trust Fund would be administered by the Attorney General's Environmental Protection Division (EPD). It is proposed that the trust would work with community-led organizations and use the fund for environmental restoration and other initiatives that promote the well-being of the affected communities. Potential projects include air monitoring networks, asthma prevention programs, rooftop and community gardens, and depaving of heat-absorbing blacktops.
Unfortunately, the Attorney General's Office currently lacks the authority to direct EPD penalties directly to those disadvantaged communities impacted by violations of enforced state environmental laws. The implementation of the Environmental Justice Trust Fund would enable a portion of settlement and judgment money to be utilized for the benefit of disproportionately impacted communities, addressing health, economic, and environmental concerns.
Nationally, vulnerable communities have been found to be at a higher risk of suffering adverse health effects due to their proximity to risk-prone areas. These locales include urban heat islands, resource-isolated rural communities, coastal and flood-prone areas, and regions with older or poorly maintained infrastructure, or high levels of air pollution. Compounding issues such as food insecurity, infectious diseases, and psychological stressors have led to further disparities within these communities.
Massachusetts is identified as a state dealing with a high rate of pediatric asthma, and it is predicted that degraded air quality will disproportionately affect disadvantaged communities. In addition to health concerns such as childhood asthma and elder mortality, the environment also plays a role in exacerbating issues like heavy rainfall and flooding. These conditions are likely to increase mold growth, stress sewer systems, and contaminate private and public water supplies. Furthermore, droughts could potentially lead to water supply depletion, with more severe consequences for disadvantaged communities.
With the establishment of the Environmental Justice Trust Fund, the Attorney General's Office seeks to address these environmental concerns in partnership with community organizations. They aim to empower vulnerable communities to mitigate environmental risks and improve their living conditions. By doing so, they hope to bridge the gap between communities and foster a more equitable society where everyone has the right to be protected from environmental hazards and to enjoy a clean and healthful environment according to Mass Gov.
