New Department of Justice Office Will Target Climate Disparities

Environmental justice efforts are being stepped up by the U.S. Department of Justice. The office of the department will focus on the human impacts of pollution and climate changed disasters.

Garland said this week that the Justice Department has three essential responsibilities: uphold the rule of law, keep our country safe, and protect civil rights.

The Office of Environmental Justice is part of the Biden administration's strategy to address the climate crisis. It is in line with the president's promise of taking an all of government approach to improve environmental justice in the U.S.

The office will work with communities around the country, but Garland emphasized that it would focus on frontline areas where residents are more likely to experience health and social disparity.

There is a mountain of disparity. Hispanic and Black communities are exposed to more pollution even though they are less responsible for emissions. Hispanics breathe more pollution than their communities create, and Black Americans are exposed to 50% more pollution than they create, according to a study.