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11.148

Environmental Justice: Law and Policy

3-0-9 units. HASS-S · Undergraduate

Introduces frameworks for analyzing and addressing inequalities in the distribution of environmental benefits and burdens, particularly by race and by class. Explores the foundations and principles of the environmental justice movement from the perspectives of social science, public policy, and law. Introduces basic principles of US constitutional and environmental law, with a focus on equal protection and civil rights. Applies environmental justice principles to contemporary issues in urban policy and planning, including effects of and responses to climate change and global heating. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.

Fall 2019 · Environmental Justice Law and Policy

This seminar introduces students to basic principles of environmental justice and presents frameworks for analyzing and addressing inequalities in the distribution of environmental benefits and burdens from the perspectives of social science, public policy, and law.

Readings

  • Bullard et al.,“Toxic Wastes and Race at Twenty: 1987–2007,” pp. x–14
    Listed reading
  • Pellow, Garbage Wars , pp. 1–99, 161–169
    Listed reading
  • Pulido, Environmentalism and Economic Justice , pp. 1–56, 191
    Listed reading
  • LaDuke, All Our Relations , pp. 1–6
    Listed reading
  • Coates, Between the World and Me , pp. 149–152
    Listed reading
  • Harvey, Justice, Nature and the Geography of Difference , Chapter 8: pp. 176–204
    Listed reading
  • Auyero and Swistun, Flammable , pp. 1–20, 140–160
    Listed reading
  • Freeland, “Environmental Justice and the Brownfields Revitalization Act of 2001”
    Listed reading
  • Class Sessions: 6. Forms of Regulation: Standard-Setting, Markets, Disclosure · Readings: Standard-Setting
    Reading assignment
  • U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Office of General Counsel, “Plan EJ 2014”
    Listed reading
  • Class Sessions: 7. Scales of Action: Federal, State, and Local Policies to Advance Environmental Justice · Readings: Federal Responses
    Reading assignment
  • U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, “EJ 2020 Action Agenda” [skim]
    Listed reading
  • Class Sessions: 8. The Production of Environmental Knowledge, Litigation, Mobilization · Readings: The Production of Environmental Knowledge
    Reading assignment
  • Corburn, Street Science , pp. 47–77
    Listed reading
  • Corburn, Street Science , pp. 25–46
    Listed reading
  • Fischer, Citizens, Experts, and the Environment , pp. ix–28
    Listed reading
  • Sze, Noxious New York , pp. 143–211
    Listed reading
  • Anguelovski, Neighborhood as Refuge , pp. 195–219
    Listed reading
  • Complaint Under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 [skim]
    Listed reading
  • Pastor et al., “In the Wake of the Storm,” Chapter 1
    Listed reading
  • Pellow, Resisting Global Toxics , pp. 73–95
    Listed reading

Prerequisites & course information

Subject meets with 11.368 Prereq: None U (Fall) Not offered regularly; consult department 3-0-9 units. HASS-S

Sources