Environmental Justice Mapping and Data Collection Act of 2021 - Summer

Team Members: Chelsea Gómez (Manager), Cassidy Childs (Deputy Manager), Anika Becker, John H. Bivins, Sarah Chin, Deanna Coleman, Matthew Horne, Anupama Joseph, Laura Millar, Gianna Parisi, Niqat Patel, Raleigh Ricart, ChanDana Yelkur

Environmental justice communities across the United States face disproportionate exposure to environmental hazards, including air and water pollution, toxic waste, and climate-related disasters, due to historic disinvestment and inequitable policy decisions. However, inconsistent data collection and fragmented federal mapping tools have limited the government’s ability to identify vulnerable populations and allocate resources effectively. The Environmental Justice Mapping and Data Collection Act of 2021 establishes an interagency committee to develop a coordinated federal mapping system that integrates environmental, health, socioeconomic, and demographic data. This framework supports implementation of the Justice40 Initiative, which aims to direct at least 40 percent of federal environmental and climate investments to disadvantaged communities. By improving data integration and accessibility, the legislation strengthens the federal government’s capacity to identify environmental justice communities and prioritize equitable resource allocation.

Improved mapping and data coordination significantly enhance policy effectiveness by enabling more accurate identification of vulnerable populations and improving transparency in federal decision-making. Comparative analysis of existing tools, such as EPA’s EJSCREEN, shows that while these systems provide valuable insights, they often lack consistency, accessibility, and interagency coordination. Establishing standardized federal mapping systems improves interagency collaboration, supports evidence-based policymaking, and ensures that federal investments address the communities most affected by environmental injustice. Case study analysis, including Hurricane Katrina, demonstrates how inadequate data and planning contributed to disproportionate impacts on marginalized populations. Strengthening environmental justice data infrastructure enables more effective targeting of federal resources, improves accountability, and supports equitable climate resilience, public health protection, and environmental policy outcomes.

Learn more about the MPA-ESP Workshop in Applied Earth Systems Management.