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Energy Access and Environmental Justice

Explore the intersection of energy access and environmental justice, examining pollution exposure, socioeconomic impacts, and infrastructure implications. Learn about key concepts, case studies, and the importance of equitable energy distribution for sustainability.

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Energy Access and Environmental Justice

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  1. Energy Access and Environmental Justice Karen Berger Earth and Environmental Sciences University of Rochester What are we currently doing? Teaching Environmental Justice: Interdisciplinary Approaches 15 April 2013

  2. Framing the discussion • What is environmental justice? • EJ: “the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, national origin, or income with respect to the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies.” - U.S. Environmental Protection Agency • Other definitions: Wikipedia, South African Environmental Justice Networking Forum, ...

  3. Framing the discussion • “No person in the United States shall, on the ground or race, color, or national origin, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving federal financial assistance.” - Civil Rights Act, Title VI • What is discrimination? • By intention or results? • By measured exposure or predicted impact? • How do you measure qualitative impacts? • Why does it matter in an energy course?

  4. Energy and environmental justice • Pollution exposure • Means for socioeconomic development • Infrastructure impacts

  5. Energy and environmental justice • Pollution exposure • Means for socioeconomic development • Infrastructure impacts

  6. Energy: pollution

  7. Impacts from refineries • Clean Air Act: 54% non-compliant • Clean Water Act: 22% non-compliant • RCRA: 32% violated Weighing the benefits: 1,000+ pounds pollution per job O’Rourke, D. and S. Connolly. “Just oil? The distribution of environmental and social impacts of oil production and consumption.” Annu. Rev. Environ. Resour. 2003. 28:587–617.

  8. Impacts from coal power plants “Air of Injustice: African Americans and Power Plant Pollution” (2002)

  9. Energy and environmental justice • Pollution exposure • Means for socioeconomic development • Infrastructure impacts

  10. Energy for economic development “Ending poverty and ensuring sustainability are the defining challenges of our time. Energy is central to both of them.” – Jim Kim, President, The World Bank September 24, 2012

  11. Access to high-quality energy  quality of life  economic development Access involves: • Affordability • Distribution • Reliability

  12. Benefits of energy access

  13. Multiplier effects: human health

  14. Multiplier effects: education

  15. Energy and environmental justice • Pollution exposure • Means for socioeconomic development • Infrastructure impacts

  16. Energy-related infrastructure • Siting of • Refineries, power plants, disposal sites • Pipelines • Natural gas/oil wells • Roads • Public transportation

  17. Case study: the pipeline’s path • Pacific Pipeline – Bakersfield via Los Angeles • Of 75 neighborhoods, • 72 were higher minority population than CA average • 42 had >90% minority population • all had higher non-English speakers • 62 had per capita income lower than national/city level O’Rourke, D. and S. Connolly. “Just oil? The distribution of environmental and social impacts of oil production and consumption.” Annu. Rev. Environ. Resour. 2003. 28:587–617.

  18. Case study: hydrofracking • Beneficiaries: individual landowners • At-risk: local community KEY QUESTIONS: • Who benefits? • Who is at risk? • Who has the decision-making power?

  19. Thank you

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