What Is Justice40rward?

Justice40rward is a community-led effort launched by WE ACT for Environmental Justice, to ensure transparency and collaboration between elected officials, municipalities, and those who live in disadvantaged communities that the Justice40 Initiative was designed to support. Our work begins with making sure people, including local and state officials, understand the Justice40 Initiative, announced by President Biden in January 2021, and informing them about the billions of federal dollars in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, Inflation Reduction Act, and other appropriations that can be accessed to address environmental injustices in their communities.

The Justice40 initiative, developed by the Biden Administration, will provide billions of federal dollars allocated to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, Inflation Reduction Act, and other appropriations that can be accessed to address environmental injustices in disadvantaged communities. We appreciate the support of the White House as we develop and launch Justice40 community tours across the country.

What is the Justice40 Initiative? 

  1. President Biden established the Justice40 Initiative to ensure that people living with legacy harms are prioritized in our national transition to greener sources of energy, cleaner air and water and economic opportunities.
  2. The goal is that 40 percent of the overall benefits of certain federal investments flow to communities that have been marginalized, underserved and overburdened by pollution and climate change.

Purpose of the Justice40 Initiative:

  1. To put an end to injustices such as (1) the devaluation of Black, Brown, Indigenous, and poor lives, (2) disproportionate, cumulative exposure to pollution and associated health impacts, and (3) historic land stealing among other issues and to ensure that everyone lives in a safe, healthy and vibrant community.

Why We Need the Justice40 Initiative:

  1. We all want our families to grow up healthy, happy, and safe for generations to come. Communities of color and low-income neighborhoods have been intentionally exploited and systematically harmed. For example, they have paid an unconscionable price for pollution and climate change due to a variety of factors, including but not limited to:
  2. Systemic racism, classism, and other issues
  3. White supremacy that sponsors and supports racist and classists policies
  4. Historic land stealing (eminent domain) and Redlining (housing segregation)
  5. Mismanagement of funds earmarked for specific communities, racism, classism, and other issues
  6. Devaluation of Black, Brown, Indigenous Lives, and those with low incomes
  7. Disproportionate, cumulative exposure to pollution and associated health impacts
  8. Disproportionate effect on jobs during the transition to a clean economy
  9. Uneven distribution of the costs and benefits of green investments and environmental programs designed to subsidize access to clean technology 

How Can Local and State Officials Support Justice40rward? 

  1. The federal benefits and investments of Justice40 will be distributed in two ways: (1) discretionary grants and (2) formula funds. Local and state officials are an important part of the process of ensuring that communities most in need of investment receive funds. Partner with communities to develop:
    1. Justice-oriented funding criteria;
    2. Equitable implementation requirements:
    3. Transparent reporting processes, opportunities, and results;
    4. Objective evaluation mechanisms; and
    5. Robust community engagement processes.

Community Engagement Issue Brief

Read the Community Engagement Issue Brief by clicking here.

What is the Justice40 Community Tour?

WE ACT for Environmental Justice will bring community leaders, members and elected officials together in five states to highlight the Justice40 Initiative announced by President Biden in January 2021. The initiative will provide billions of federal dollars allocated in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, Inflation Reduction Act, and other appropriations that can be accessed to address environmental injustices in disadvantaged communities. The community tour will visit the cities of Houston, Austin, Seattle and more! Click below to learn more.

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