Environmental Justice and Resiliency in an Age of Uncertainty

Introduction

Celeste Murphy-Greene

1. An Overview of Environmental Justice

Celeste Murphy-Greene

2. Climate Justice and Vulnerable Populations

Celeste Murphy-Greene & Michael A. Brown

3. COVID-19 & Health Equity

Celeste Murphy Greene & Michael Brown

4. The Flint Water Crisis

Chris Surfus, & Cara Sanner

5. Anti-Resilience Factors of Environmental: Justice Communities

Janet A. Phoenix

6. Environmental Justice and Smart Cities

Angela Orebaugh

7. Advancing Energy Justice Through Local Clean Energy

Seth Mullendore

8. Emergency Management and Environmental Justice

Jim Redick

9. Public Works-A Partner to Build More Equitable Communities

James Patterson

10. Public Procurement and Contract Management for Environmental Justice and Resiliency

Joshua Steinfeld

11. Conclusion

Celeste Murphy-Greene

Biography

Celeste Murphy-Greene, PhD, MPA, is a faculty member and program coordinator for the graduate certificates in Public Administration, and Leadership at the University of Virginia. Over a 25-year career Murphy-Greene has worked at the US Environmental Protection Agency and as a congressional aide, before moving into academia. Her research focuses on environmental policy, local government financial management, and quality of life issues. Her work has appeared in Public Administration Review, International Journal of Public Administration, Public Administration Quarterly, Journal of Health and Human Services Administration, Review of Policy Research, Journal of Business and Public Affairs, and Journal of Emergency Management.

"Wildfires, floods, droughts, and pandemics beget pollution, drowning, starvation, and deaths. And they affect marginalized communities worst. This book explains how it happens and what to do about it. It explains vulnerabilities caused by climate change and what real environmental justice would look like. Read it to get up-to-date information on how communities can work toward environmental justice and build resilience into mitigation efforts. Traditional topics are covered as well as new dimensions, filling a niche for environmental policy and social equity courses."

Mary E. Guy, University of Colorado Denver

"The world faces numerous crises implicating environmental justice, such as global climate change, the COVID-19 pandemic, resource depredation, structural inequities, and more. The need for accountability for environmental justice has never been more acute, especially to understand the causes and effects of these injustices and to diversely, equitably, and inclusively forge new ways forward. Celeste Murphy Greene has brought together an authoritative group of authors—both practitioners and academics—to examine critical environmental justice topics and to share tools that can help foster resiliency and a better future for all. Anyone interested in equity and justice should read and apply the lessons from this text."

Sean McCandless, University of Illinois Springfield

"As the leader of an organization that prioritizes energy transition research and other public impact initiatives aimed at bringing about change in historically disadvantaged communities, this book is informative yet practical in offering possible solutions for those interested in addressing environmental justice. The authors paint an illuminating picture of how our social, economic, and community well-being is inextricably linked to our ability to acknowledge the historical injustices that have been institutionalized across the country, while also giving us hope for how we can be more environmentally equitable even as we continue to navigate the uncertainties of the 'new normal'."

Larry D. Terry, University of Virginia

"Climate action and sustainability plans must prioritize equity and inclusion. To manage the climate crisis equitably it is imperative that communities work to resolve environmental justice challenges. Cities are charged with this critical task and leadership is needed to ensure this is accomplished. This book offers important insights for community leaders into the impacts of the climate crisis on disadvantaged populations and a path forward towards building resiliency. It is well researched and provides a comprehensive look at the challenges and what must be done to resolve them."

Lori Welch, City of Lansing, Sustainability Manager

"The racism entrenched in the systems and structures of our communities is exposed by the sound research, data, and case studies in Dr. Greene’s new book. The recent focus has been on racial injustice and police. Dr. Greene’s collection, however, illustrates that equity issues are far more pervasive: healthcare, emergency management, public works, zoning, and others. Most importantly, the authors present insights and solutions. Local leaders who care about equity will find helpful guidance in this research."

Ron Carlee, Old Dominion University

"This Emergency Management text addresses environmental and climate justice issues, COVID-19, health equity, community resilience, and more in these challenging times with natural and biological disasters. The text further prepares students for solutions such as building resilient and smart communities, focusing on clean energy, and disaster preparedness. I highly recommend this textbook because it walks the reader through a series of important environmental issues, focusing on equity in a way that prepares them for interacting with diverse communities."

Charlyn A. Hilliman, Capella University

"Environmental Justice and Resiliency in an Age of Uncertainty is a must read for sustainability and resiliency practitioners who want to bring environmental justice focus to their work. In this seminal work, the authors take readers through the historical events and current cultural factors surrounding the most pressing environmental justice issues we face, detail how the accelerating climate crisis and Covid-19 pandemic have exacerbated these challenges, and outline the tools and resources we can use to work toward a more resilient and equitable future."

Annette Osso, LEED AP, Managing Director, Resilient Virginia

"This book fills a need in the field by offering insight on issues that are not often tied together in a straightforward fashion by news media or practitioner-aimed reports. Here, through-lines are explicit and the reader does not move between the chapters unsure of common themes or topic relevance. No other volumes offer this approach to explaining the dynamics of environmental inequality while offering this much breadth in a book of this size. Free from overly technical explanations, these chapters speak directly to students and administrators. The material is accessible, informative, and prescriptive. It fills a gap by providing administration-related energy and environmental guidance. Environmental Justice and Resiliency in an Age of Uncertainty would be a great addition to any classroom and an excellent resource for those already working in public service fields."

Betsy Smith, Journal of Social Equity and Public Administration

"Each chapter provides a unique perspective on the issues covered, offering practical strategies to create a more resilient society that can be applied by practitioners in the field."

Michael Svoboda, Yale Climate Connections

Environmental Justice and Resiliency in an Age of Uncertainty was selected as as one of Choice 360s Toward Inclusive Excellence resource books, 2023.

"As contemporary crises unfold, effective responses and resilience building needs a consistent update of knowledge and understanding. This is especially true for governments, practitioners, researchers, and communities working on prevalent issues and preparing for a better future for all. Environmental Justice and Resiliency in an Age of Uncertainty, edited by Celeste Murphy-Greene, provides a framework—as well as strategies and tools—for a range of stakeholders, particularly in the U.S., to understand the linkages between environmental crises, social justice, and resilience building."

Tanvi Deshpande, Journal of Urban Affairs