Justice First: Interdisciplinary Approaches in Environmental Justice Research and Efforts

Following the 1982 protests of Warren County, North Carolina, USA, which have been deemed the birth of modern environmental justice (EJ; Bullard 2020), many of the research efforts for EJ have focused on race/class disparities in environmental quality and health (see Cushing et al. 2015; Agyeman et al. 2016; Swope et al. 2022 for example). This research has highlighted the many disparities in environmental quality as well as human health, which is key for addressing and working toward the 17 principles of environmental justice (Mohai et al. 2009). Due to this, the understanding of EJ within ecology is often posited within the relationship between humans and environmental degradation. Yet, the “environment” is not just physical landscapes, it is “everything: where we live, work, play, go to school, as well as the physical and natural world,” as described by Robert Bullard, the father of the modern EJ movement (Schweizer 1999, Bullard 2020). Moreover, the first EJ principle states, “Environmental justice affirms the sacredness of Mother Earth, ecological unity and the interdependence of all species, and the right to be free from ecological destruction” (Mohai et al. 2009), meaning that research should necessarily integrate non-human animals into the work of EJ (Agyeman et al. 2016). Our symposium, “Justice First: Interdisciplinary Approaches in Environmental Justice Research” brings together speakers who examine not as a people-free biophysical system but as the ambient and immediate surroundings of everyday life, people, and wildlife. This is essential for advancing EJ and recognizing that environmental injustices can occur beyond physical landscapes.

Overall, the speakers in this symposium highlighted that engaging with urban health, environmental injustices, and education means addressing the inequalities in our society. To do so, speakers engaged with a wide range of scholars both in the private and public sectors, unknowingly emphasizing the need for de-siloing knowledge production in ecology. The primary goals of this symposium are to learn from Black scholars who have lived experience with systems of oppression that create environmental injustices and to highlight that work that engages EJ with communities rather than on EJ communities. Speakers showed that accomplishing EJ requires building new structures centered around placing humans as a part of the natural world rather than apart from it, and that incorporating EJ into a field requires a holistic approach that can produce transformative work. This symposium was moderated by Brandon Quintana at California State University, with talks given by, and open discussion with attendees amongst, Cesar Estien (Ph.D. Candidate – University of California Berkeley), Alycia Ellington (Ph.D. Student – University of California, Santa Cruz), Gabriel Gadsden (Ph.D. Candidate – Yale University) and Dr. Christopher Schell (Assistant Professor – University of California, Berkeley; Fig. 1). This article provides a summary of the presentations of the talks given at the symposium.

Environmental injustice is more than a disproportionate exposure to pollution; it comes in many forms, including disruptions in relationships to land and adverse impacts on wildlife ecology (Groves 2015, Agyeman et al. 2016, Schell et al. 2020). This assemblage of scholars demonstrated new perspectives and opportunities for attendees to engage with and contribute to a new wave of EJ scholarship. We believe that conversations surrounding environmental injustice should be led by individuals whose identities and experiences overlap with the communities harmed the most by environmental injustice and who have lived experiences with systemic oppression, racism, sexism, and queerphobia. For that reason, the Justice First symposium hosted early-career Black scientists who are emerging experts in their field. Although all scientists can do EJ work and know the theory, lived experience is incredibly valuable for shaping the approach and framing of EJ work. For our speakers, their direct experiences and identities inform how they approach and form the foundation of their work (e.g., Schell et al. 2020, Ellington 2021, Estien 2023, Gadsden et al. 2023). This symposium is an act from Black and Latine organizers against the white supremacy that lingers in institutions because of the deep roots it holds within academia and science at large. For this reason, we wanted attendees to engage with new scholars at staggered career stages and disciplines who have been marginalized in their own fields.

The Justice First symposium not only acknowledges existing environmental disparities but also calls for a paradigm shift in ecological research. It challenges the conventional silos within academia and promotes interdisciplinary scholarship that can have far-reaching implications in areas like conservation, policy, urban planning, public health, and education. This approach is vital in addressing the complex web of environmental challenges that we face today, where systemic issues like racism and capitalism are inextricably linked with environmental injustice. The speakers in the Justice First symposium are just a subset of the scholars who are paving the way for a more inclusive ecology by demonstrating that ecology must critically examine the environment in all its facets to understand the myriad factors that produce environmental injustices and impact wildlife. By inviting early-career Black scientists who have faced systemic oppression themselves, the symposium acknowledges the value of lived experiences in shaping research. Further, the symposium offered an opportunity for attendees to engage with scholars who bring fresh perspectives and innovative solutions to the forefront (Fig. 1), challenging the traditional portrayals of those who conduct ecological research.

Although the research presented primarily focuses on EJ work in the United States, there is an urgent need around the world to fight environmental injustices by centering and fighting social injustice. This session provided a new direction for traditionally trained ecologists interested in incorporating EJ in their work by promoting the interdisciplinary work of ESA members. As organizers, we view our symposium as a call to action for ecologists to recognize the interconnectedness of environmental and social justice issues and to work across disciplines to create a more equitable and just future. Moreover, the work presented in the symposium highlights the critical work that still needs to be done to dismantle environmental injustices to create a healthy, just environment for all, as emphasized by the first principle of environmental justice (Mohai et al. 2009).