Sierra Club Statement on EPA’s Plans to Close Environmental Justice Offices

Washington, D.C. - In an internal memo, Lee Zeldin announced the Environmental Protection Agency’s plans to shut down all offices responsible for addressing the disproportionate negative impacts of climate change on underserved communities.

There is overwhelming evidence that due to centuries of mismanagement, racist policies, and systemic injustice, climate change has disproportionately impacted poor and minority communities across the country. These communities face the highest levels of pollution, have the least access to clean water, and experience worse health outcomes than the national average.

This announcement comes after the EPA placed 168 employees who worked on environmental justice issues on leave, and took down an online mapping tool called EJScreen, which identified regions that experience disproportionate exposure to climate pollution. 

In response, Sierra Club Executive Director Ben Jealous issued the following statement:

“Ending environmental justice efforts does not serve the American people. It does not accomplish anything meaningful towards the EPA’s mission to protect our environment and keep our air and water clean. There is only one purpose to Lee Zeldin’s announcement: to allow big polluters to continue cutting corners. This disgraceful action will only further endanger the most vulnerable Americans. The Sierra Club will continue our work to defend the American people, and keep all communities across the country safe from toxic, deadly pollution.”