Climate Conversations: Environmental Justice

Environmental justice and a just transition are critical to tackling the climate crisis and create a more equitable world for all. Yet awareness of environmental justice is uneven and the concept applies differently in different circumstances. The National Academies and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences held a discussion about reconciling different understandings of environmental justice, the importance of community engagement in a just transition, and how centering environmental justice can accelerate implementation of climate policies. Michael Méndez (University of California, Irvine) moderated the conversation between Paty Romero-Lankao (University of Toronto Scarborough) and Hilary C. Tompkins (Hogan Lovells) discussing current power dynamics and how having communities at the table can ensure a just transition for impacted communities.