Partnerships for Environmental Public Health (PEPH)
Environmental Justice: The Past, Present, and Future of the Movement
November 23, 2021
Interviewee: Robert Bullard, Ph.D.
In this episode, Robert Bullard, Ph.D., often referred to as the father of environmental justice, shares his knowledge and insights from more than 40 years as a leading voice in the field. He also talks about the future of the environmental justice movement.
Environmental Justice: The Past, Present, and Future of the Movement
Environmental justice embraces the belief that all people deserve safe and healthy places to live, work, learn, pray, and play. However, many low-income communities and communities of color experience disproportionate exposure to pollution and other health hazards – from air and water pollution to a lack of access to green spaces and healthy foods.
In this episode, Robert Bullard, Ph.D., often referred to as the father of environmental justice, shares his knowledge and insights from more than 40 years as a leading voice in the field. He also talks about the future of the environmental justice movement.
Interviewee: Robert Bullard, Ph.D.
Known as the father of environmental justice, Robert Bullard, Ph.D., has been on the front lines of the environmental justice movement for more than 40 years.
He is a distinguished professor of urban planning and environmental policy and founding director of the Bullard Center for Environmental and Climate Justice at Texas Southern University.
Bullard is co-principal investigator with Beverly Wright, Ph.D., of the Deep South Center for Environmental Justice in New Orleans on the NIEHS funded Worker Training Program that helps prepare underserved populations for environmental careers. He also co-directs the Maternal and Infant Environmental Health Riskscape Research Center, funded in part by NIEHS. In March 2021, he was named a member of the new White House Environmental Justice Advisory Council.
Bullard is the author of 18 books that address topics such as environmental racism, industrial facility siting, climate justice, disasters, and community resilience.
Additional Resources:
- Check out an April 2021 Environmental Factor article for a conversation between Bullard and NIEHS and National Toxicology Program Director Rick Woychik, Ph.D., about the challenges and opportunities in environmental justice.
- Learn about the research and activities NIEHS supports to promote environmental justice on the environmental health disparities and environmental justice webpage.