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Environmental Justice organizations in California – Asian Pacific Environmental Network (Oakland), Communities for a Better Environment (SF Bay Area/Los Angeles), Environmental Health Coalition (San Diego), People Organizing to Demand Environmental & Economic Rights (San Francisco), Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition/Health and Environmental Justice Project (San Jose) – have begun to proactively develop collective analyses and explore possibilities for action at the state level. This report represents our initial shared understanding of the landscape of environmental conditions and policy in California, and our working framework to address these issues. The goal of the report is to provide a clear, concise landscape of statewide conditions as well as opportunities and challenges for building grassroots power and influence at the state level. The report is written to inform legislatures and policymakers of the history of neglect and the lack of compliance and enforcement of environmental protections in California and to identify policy, legislative, program, and investment gaps that have resulted in a statewide environmental justice crisis.

Every day, communities of color across California face challenges of poverty, toxics and pollution, unsafe and unsustainable work conditions, and a lack of safe, affordable housing and basic goods and services. Further compounding the conditions are obstacles in the form of unequal political and legal rights, a lack of resources, and exclusion from public policy-making that most impacts them.

Achieving EJ in CA means building healthy communities that meet the basic needs of people, protect against avoidable harm, and allow for grassroots leadership and participation in public policy decision-making. In the fight for equal protection and justice, the ongoing work and accomplishments of EJ organizations in California and the environmental justice movement nationally and internationally will benefit all communities in the quality of their everyday lives.

Click here to read about the progress of the California Alliance

photo courtesy of Building Healthy Communities from the Ground Up:Environmental Justice in California