Environmental Racism and Air Pollution in Schools: Advancing Justice for Healthy Learning Environments (SDG 3, 10 & 11)
Environmental Racism and Air Pollution in Schools: Advancing Justice for Healthy Learning Environments (SDG 3, 10 & 11) Environmental racism refers to the systemic placement of hazardous waste sites , industrial facilities, and other ecological burdens disproportionately in communities of color and low-income neighborhoods. This issue is particularly critical in the context of air pollution affecting schools, where marginalized students face significant health and educational disparities . Environmental racism refers to the disproportionate exposure of marginalized communities—often communities of color and low-income groups—to environmental hazards such as industrial facilities, landfills, and major highways. Recent studies highlight the alarming scale of this issue. According to a report by the American Lung Association (2024), over 70% of Black and Latino children in the United States attend schools located within a mile of highwa...