By Mustafa Santiago Ali
About the author: Mustafa Ali is the Senior Advisor to EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy for Environmental Justice and Community Revitalization.
Public forums in which community members participate (whether online or in-person), provide problem-solving ideas and actions that have taken environmental justice to new heights. The importance of these conversations, to which stakeholders bring their experience, expertise, and knowledge, echo the 10th principle of the 1992 Rio Declaration on Environment and Development:
“Environmental decisions are best handled with the participation of all concerned citizens …[who] shall have appropriate access to information concerning the environment held by public authorities, including … the opportunity to participate in decision-making processes.“
Click to watch ‘The Road to Executive Order 12898 on Environmental Justice’ Video
Over the years, I have witnessed the power of community input that has shaped how federal agencies are integrating environmental justice into their policies and programs. Notably, the Federal Interagency Working Group on Environmental Justice (EJ IWG) was created in 1994 in response to public comments asking the federal family to address — in a holistic manner — the myriad of challenges and opportunities facing communities that are overburdened and under-resourced.
Community Meeting, Deep Water Horizon Oil Spill, 2010
As part of its effort to engage as many stakeholders as possible, the EJ IWG is seeking public input about its new draft Action Agenda Framework. The Framework is a strategic plan to define new goals for the next three years and advance greater federal agency collaboration to improve quality of life and expand economic opportunity. As a forum for federal agencies, the EJ IWG strives to build comprehensive solutions to address environmental justice and ensure that the public has meaningful opportunities for participation in the decision-making process.
In addition to the public comment period, which starts today, August 25, and runs through September 25, the EJ IWG is hosting two national webinars about the draft Framework. Don’t miss out on this important opportunity to influence decision-making that is fundamental to improving federal agency environmental justice initiatives, programs, and activities.
I urge you to participate in one of the live webinars to learn more about the Framework. Information about each webinar is listed below. Mark and your calendar and register today. Note that both webinars will cover the same information:
- Tuesday, September 1, 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. (Eastern)
- Wednesday, September 16, 3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. (Eastern)
You can RSVP for both webinars here. For more information or if you need special accommodation, contact Kevin Olp, olp.kevin@epa.gov. Webinar materials will be forwarded to participants a week before each presentation.
Take an active part in developing goals and activities that collectively advance environmental justice principles in an integrated effort by reviewing the Framework and providing your comments to ejstrategy@epa.gov.
Remember. Your voice matters!
from The EPA Blog http://ift.tt/1EUhuQK
By Mustafa Santiago Ali
About the author: Mustafa Ali is the Senior Advisor to EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy for Environmental Justice and Community Revitalization.
Public forums in which community members participate (whether online or in-person), provide problem-solving ideas and actions that have taken environmental justice to new heights. The importance of these conversations, to which stakeholders bring their experience, expertise, and knowledge, echo the 10th principle of the 1992 Rio Declaration on Environment and Development:
“Environmental decisions are best handled with the participation of all concerned citizens …[who] shall have appropriate access to information concerning the environment held by public authorities, including … the opportunity to participate in decision-making processes.“
Click to watch ‘The Road to Executive Order 12898 on Environmental Justice’ Video
Over the years, I have witnessed the power of community input that has shaped how federal agencies are integrating environmental justice into their policies and programs. Notably, the Federal Interagency Working Group on Environmental Justice (EJ IWG) was created in 1994 in response to public comments asking the federal family to address — in a holistic manner — the myriad of challenges and opportunities facing communities that are overburdened and under-resourced.
Community Meeting, Deep Water Horizon Oil Spill, 2010
As part of its effort to engage as many stakeholders as possible, the EJ IWG is seeking public input about its new draft Action Agenda Framework. The Framework is a strategic plan to define new goals for the next three years and advance greater federal agency collaboration to improve quality of life and expand economic opportunity. As a forum for federal agencies, the EJ IWG strives to build comprehensive solutions to address environmental justice and ensure that the public has meaningful opportunities for participation in the decision-making process.
In addition to the public comment period, which starts today, August 25, and runs through September 25, the EJ IWG is hosting two national webinars about the draft Framework. Don’t miss out on this important opportunity to influence decision-making that is fundamental to improving federal agency environmental justice initiatives, programs, and activities.
I urge you to participate in one of the live webinars to learn more about the Framework. Information about each webinar is listed below. Mark and your calendar and register today. Note that both webinars will cover the same information:
- Tuesday, September 1, 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. (Eastern)
- Wednesday, September 16, 3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. (Eastern)
You can RSVP for both webinars here. For more information or if you need special accommodation, contact Kevin Olp, olp.kevin@epa.gov. Webinar materials will be forwarded to participants a week before each presentation.
Take an active part in developing goals and activities that collectively advance environmental justice principles in an integrated effort by reviewing the Framework and providing your comments to ejstrategy@epa.gov.
Remember. Your voice matters!
from The EPA Blog http://ift.tt/1EUhuQK
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