Pathway 17:
Environmental Justice
*Also U.N. Sustainable Development Goals #1 No Poverty, #6 Clean Water and Sanitation, #7 Affordable and Clean Energy, #10 Reduced Inequalities, #11 Sustainable Cities and Communities, #12 Responsible Consumption and Production, #13 Climate Action, and #15 Life on Land Read More
Days to Celebrate:
April 22nd: Earth Day
June 5th: World Environment Day
August 9th: International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples
October 13th: International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction
Guides and Curricula
Introduction to Environmental Justice – EcoRise
Primary Sources Lesson: Climate Migrants – Through the examination of primary and secondary resources, students encounter stories about climate migrants, people who were forced to leave their homes due to the impacts of climate change. Students learn that one way to support climate migrants is by educating others about the challenges they face. Students work in groups to research the topic and create posters that can be displayed in a common area of the school.
California Coastal Commission: Environmental Justice in California and Beyond – A flexible five-lesson unit for grades 9-12. Students learn about environmental justice in California and elsewhere in the US by studying communities struggling with environmental inequities and how those communities have fought for justice.
Toolkit: Talking With Kids About Equitable Nature Access – Children & Nature Network – This toolkit provides curated lists of age-appropriate resources to help you support children and teens in understanding how long-standing systems of inequity impact access to natural places and what we can do to increase access so that all children can enjoy the benefits of nature.
EarthEcho: Environmental Justice Modules:
Environmental Justice: Green Team and Classroom Learning and Activities by King County
Civic Science and Environmental Justice Curriculum – Children’s Environmental Literacy Foundation
Videos
Environmental justice, explained – Grist
EcoSense for Living: Environmental Justice – PBS – EcoSense explores the intersection of environmentalism and the social justice movement with representatives from the Partnership for Southern Equity and the NAACP.
PBS: A Subsistence Culture Impacted by Climate Change
Games
The Thingamabob Game: A Simulation on Capitalism vs. the Climate – Zinn Education Project
Useful Links
Environmental Justice: Why We Should Teach it and How to Get Started – NEA
Environmental Justice Factsheet – University of Michigan Center for Sustainable Systems
The Environmental Justice Movement – NRDC
Environmental Justice 101 – The Climate Reality Project
Picture Books to Inspire Environmental Justice Seekers – Doing Good Together
Earth Law Center – Earth Law Center’s mission is to advance ecocentric laws, policies, and governance for the well-being of the Earth community.
EarthJustice – Non-profit public interest law organization dedicated to protecting the magnificent places, natural resources, and wildlife of this earth, and to defending the right of all people to a healthy environment.
Climate & Environmental Justice – Environmental Defense Fund