With global warming and other environmental issues rising, creating hazardous situations, especially for underprivileged communities, the fight for environmental justice has become more crucial for the world. Asian Americans’ role in advocating for solutions to these environmental challenges has become more important.
The Asian Pacific Environmental Network has played a crucial role in fighting for environmental justice for working-class Asian Americans. This non-profit organization strives to unite a collective voice to develop an alternative agenda for environmental justice, focusing on helping Asian immigrant and refugee communities.
In Chicago, Asian Americans have formed the Chicago Asian Americans for Environmental Justice, aiming to resolve the environmental justice issues that threaten Asian-American citizens. For instance, Chicago’s Chinatown has historically been primarily industrial, leading to the soil containing high levels of lead, which may endanger the safety of citizens growing food in a garden there.
While these are only two examples, many more Asian-American environmentalists are fighting for the exact cause. Their voices are essential in showing that environmental justice is not just about preserving nature but ensuring that all communities, especially those marginalized by race and class, have access to a healthy and safe environment. As the fight for environmental justice continues, Asian Americans will remain integral to shaping its future.