The Biden administration has created an Office of Environmental Justice to handle climate related issues to help safeguard the health of vulnerable communities who are affected disproportionately by pollution.
The Environmental Justice Office will fall under the Office of Climate Change within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
"By creating this new office and prioritizing environmental justice at HHS, Secretary [Xavier] Becerra is undertaking the type of bold institutional reform that is desperately needed to deliver clean air and clean water for all communities," White House Council on Environmental Quality Chair Brenda Mallory said in a statement.
"Today’s announcement is a key step toward confronting environmental injustice – in all of its heartbreaking forms – with the full force and commitment of the Federal government."
Most often minority communities or poor people are the ones who are made to bear the brunt of environmental injustice. Minority populations in many parts of the United States suffer from excessive pollution which are often not common in wealthy areas. This could range from toxic waste, methane gas or many other lethal substances located close to poor neighborhoods.
Photo(File): Felton Davis, Flickr Creative Commons.
Due to their low levels of income, there’s often a high illiteracy rate among minority populations and many of them may not be aware of the dangers they are exposed to.
This new office will spearhead programs to integrate environmental justice into HHS mission in an effort to improve the health of vulnerable communities.
The creation of this office comes as good news to believers, since Christians are commanded by God to protect the planet and its living beings.
While some Christians may hold the view that protecting the environment may not be as vital as sharing the gospel, caring for God’s creation as servant leaders is equally an important service to God.
Failing to protect the environment and ensure clean water and air for all God’s children can lead to all kinds of diseases including heart disease, lung cancer, respiratory infections and many others.
With the increasing threat posed to our planet by climate change, Christians can help reduce climate effects and its impact by conserving energy, reducing waste and supporting environmental justice groups that advocate climate justice and protection of the environment especially in communities that are disproportionately impacted by environmental injustice.