On average, Black Americans breathe the most toxic air, have access to the least healthy foods, and are exposed to 56% more pollution than they produce. White Americans, on the other hand, are exposed to 17% less than their proportional share. 

These gaps didn’t happen by accident. There’s a long and well-documented history of communities of color being blocked from resources through redlining, getting paid the least to work the most environmentally dangerous jobs, and having their neighborhoods zoned to absorb polluting industries and toxic waste from wealthier neighborhoods. 

The same pattern is playing out around the world. While the global north is estimated to be responsible for at least 70-80% of environmental harms, the global south is disproportionately facing food insecurity, extreme weather, and loss of biodiversity caused by the actions of others.

Wealthy communities with access to power are often the least likely to feel the consequences of the systems they benefit from. Instead, the hazards are hidden from their view, hurting communities that can’t afford to ignore them.