OUR PLATFORM

PREAMBLE:

The National Black Environmental Justice Network demands solutions that use an equity lens to develop policies that address health, environmental, and economic justice challenges facing Black Americans. We demand a more equitable and just system that closes the racial divide and eradicates systemic racism. Policies that reduce poverty and inequality, promotes equal protection of workers, frontline communities and vulnerable populations, and provides safeguards against climate-induced health threats.

WHO WE ARE:

The National Black Environmental Justice Network (NBEJN) is a national coalition of environmental justice organizations and activists of African descent.

OUR VISION:

NBEJN is dedicated to improving the lives of Black people and addressing the systemic racism that harms and denies Black people equal access to environmental, climate, racial and economic justice, health equity, political power, civil rights and human rights.

OUR MISSION:

NBEJN works to build a world where Black people live in communities free from the vestiges of systemic racism and environmental degradation with full access to opportunities for building a quality life for Black children and families.power, civil rights and human rights.

OUR THEORY OF CHANGE:

Our organizing strategy encourages active participation by individuals and organizations across spatial location (urban, suburban, and rural), disciplines, economic strata, and generations with the goal of promoting a healthy, just, and sustainable future. NBEJN seeks to raise awareness of environmental issues among African Americans and African descent populations around the world that are impacted by environmental racism. NBEJN has undertaken a four-point strategy to combat environmental racism that focuses on (1) safe and healthy communities; (2) sustainable development, climate justice, and clean production; (3) civil rights and equal protection laws and policies; and (4) international human rights protection.

OUR DEMANDS

Environmental Justice:

  • End the deregulation campaign and restore the Clean Air Act and the Clean Water Act;

  • Federal regulations that reduce health disparities that pollute and erode Black communities;

  • Access to safe natural environments with clean air, clean water, healthy food, high quality jobs, clean energy, green and affordable transportation;

  • Real climate solutions that eliminate greenhouse gases;

  • Deep financial investments in Black communities

CLIMATE JUSTICE:

  • A healthy climate, water and air quality for all;

  • Access to reliable, affordable and sustainable electricity, water, and transportation for every community;

  • An inclusive, just, and pollution-free energy economy with high-quality jobs;

  • Safe, healthy communities and infrastructure;

  • Deep financial investments in black communities 

Economic Justice:

  • Millions of high paying, union jobs that will rebuild the economic backbone of this country;

  • Just Transition for workers in Black communities;

  • Reparations provided to Black people;

  • Equitable Fair Housing legislation that increases rates of homeownership and quality loans in black communities;

  • Deep financial investments in Black communities;

Racial Justice:

  • Electoral expansion which includes universal voter registration, pre-registration for 16-year-olds, same day and automatic voter registration;

  • The removal of qualified immunity for police;

  • An immediate end to the privatization of prisons, police and other elements of our justice system;

  • The right to vote for all formerly and presently incarcerated people, local and state resident voting for undocumented people;

  • An end to Capital Punishment, surveillance and systemic violence on Black communities;

  • Deep financial investments in black communities and divestment from fossil fuels

EDUCATION:

  • Increased funding to black cultural institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities and black research;

  • Adequate funding for Pre-K and K-12;

  • End the school to prison pipelineFocused recruitment and programs of Black teachers;

  • Community-led accountability commission to advise School BoardsReinvest in Public Schools;

  • Deep financial investments in black communities

Health Justice:

  • Universal health care;Eliminate redlining medical services in Black communities;

  • Provide access to hospitals and medical personnel in Black communities;

  • Increase environmental protection policies that eliminate systematic racism, pollutants and environmental land use policies that cause health disparities in Black and vulnerable communities;

  • Deep financial investments in Black communities

International Solidarity:

  • The US rejoin the Paris Climate Agreement and recommit to reducing emissions domestically and across the world;

  • Deep financial investments in Black and frontline impacted communities