California Attorney General Rob Bonta has co-led a coalition of 12 attorneys general to issue guidance affirming the necessity and legality of environmental justice initiatives. This multistate guidance comes as a response to what they describe as recent efforts by the Trump Administration to undermine these initiatives. According to Bonta, “Making it harder for Americans to breathe safe air and drink clean water is not ‘making America great or healthy again.’ Yet, the Trump Administration continues to undermine protections aimed at helping every American.”
The guidance aims to clarify that public and private entities can still lawfully engage in environmental justice work despite federal actions that attempt to mislabel and dismantle these efforts. Attorney General Bonta stated, “I, alongside attorneys general nationwide, are making it crystal clear with today’s guidance that the Administration does not have unilateral legal authority to dismantle policies and laws that protect our communities.”
Environmental justice initiatives seek equal access for all individuals to clean air, water, food, and a sustainable environment while addressing climate change impacts. These efforts are especially crucial for low-income communities and communities of color who face disproportionate exposure to pollution due to historical factors like racial segregation.
The coalition argues that recent federal actions do not impact the legality of environmental justice efforts. They assert that executive orders from the Trump Administration cannot alter protections provided by existing laws or the U.S. Constitution. The states involved in this guidance assure their commitment to implementing and enforcing laws supporting environmental justice.
Joining California in this initiative are Massachusetts, New York, Arizona, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawai’i, Illinois, Maryland, Minnesota, Oregon, Rhode Island, and Vermont.
For further information on California’s Department of Justice’s environmental justice efforts or details about an upcoming virtual briefing featuring Attorney General Bonta on this topic can be found through their official channels.
