DURHAM, N.C. (Aug. 30, 2024) — Gov. Roy Cooper’s Executive Order No. 292 to advance Environmental Justice ignited a powerful commitment to combat pollution, climate change, and exploitation of marginalized communities across North Carolina.
A key component of this initiative is the creation of a community mapping tool designed to help both environmental justice advocates and everyday citizens grasp the social and environmental challenges facing our state. The tool allows users to visualize environmental burdens in their communities to “better understand the role that DEQ decisions and permitting play in their community.”
Southern Coalition for Social Justice applauds the Environmental Justice Advisory Council’s progress toward developing this tool. From our efforts in Sampson County and Greensboro, we understand how critical and challenging it is to unveil the full impact of the cumulative environmental injustices on impacted communities. Having access to accurate and continuously updated data through the mapping tool alleviates some of these challenges and empowers communities with information to participate in decision-making processes.
We’ve been actively providing feedback to ensure the tool remains user-friendly and effective, and we’re excited to see its continued growth and impact.