Compiled by ILLUME Advising, LLC
Last Updates Made: March 16, 2022
This site aggregates state definitions of environmental justice (EJ) and criteria for EJ, climate justice (CJ), disadvantaged, and vulnerable communities. EJ definitions and community criteria can inform state officials, community members, and organizations looking to create their own definitions, criteria, or policies for EJ or CJ communities or populations.
This is intended to cover official policies or definitions (preferably defined in law). However, unofficial policies–such as agency-specific definitions that are not laws, or proposed policy definitions that did not or have not passed to date–are also included.
This table describes definitions and criteria to identify EJ and CJ communities geographically.
STATE AND FEDERAL EJ AND CJ COMMUNITY CRITERIA
This table contains text definitions of “environmental justice” such as the EPA’s definition of “fair treatment and meaningful involvement” of all people in environmental laws, regulations, and policies.
STATE AND FEDERAL ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE DEFINITIONS
This information was primarily collected based on internet research of state websites and is intended to represent the most recent and comprehensive definitions/criteria. Policies and definitions are rapidly evolving, and we welcome feedback and input to keep this list up-to-date. If you have questions, comments, updates, or additions, please fill out the form below: