**Environmental Justice, Health Disparities, and Climate Change: A Connected Crisis**

Environmental justice, health disparities, and climate change are closely intertwined concerns, with climate change intensifying existing health inequities in marginalized and underserved populations. Environmental justice calls for fair participation in environmental policymaking, overcoming barriers related to race and income. Groups historically marginalized, such as communities of color, low-income individuals, and indigenous populations, experience disproportionate exposure to negative environmental policies, both current and historical. These communities suffer from increased illness, mortality, and other health disparities due to heightened exposure to environmental dangers, a situation worsened by climate change.

For example, heatwaves, higher air pollution, and extreme weather conditions disproportionately impact these populations, resulting in rising occurrences of respiratory diseases, asthma, cancer, and mental health challenges. Marginalized groups contend with greater exposure and vulnerability because of pre-existing health issues and restricted access to essential recovery and adaptation resources. Tackling climate change through an environmental justice lens is crucial for mitigating health disparities, necessitating policies that address the root causes of environmental injustice and prioritize the concerns of the most impacted communities.

Structural racism plays a significant role in these disparities, embedding racial discrimination within societal frameworks, policies, and legislation. Environmental injustice, a reflection of structural racism, disproportionately affects marginalized groups, evident in historical and continuing practices like redlining. Although redlining was made illegal after the Fair Housing Act of 1968, its repercussions linger, perpetuating environmental disadvantages and health threats in the affected regions.

Environmental racism appears in multiple ways, from exposure to toxic waste, air and water pollution, to higher incidences of cancer and cardiopulmonary diseases. Noteworthy instances such as the Flint water crisis and Louisiana’s Cancer Alley demonstrate the persistent effects of environmental racism in the United States. Around the world, pollution from plastic and electronic waste disproportionately impacts communities in developing countries, underscoring the necessity for global awareness and action against environmental racism.

In the United States, disparities in environmental health unveil deep-rooted inequities, resulting in racial and ethnic minorities and low-income communities experiencing higher risks of harmful exposures. Research shows that race is a strong predictor of the locations of toxic facilities, placing marginalized communities near hazardous waste sites and polluted environments. Native American groups and immigrant workers encounter compounded challenges, from historical environmental decline to toxic occupational exposures, showcasing the extensive influence of environmental injustice on public health.

Healthcare providers can have a crucial impact on addressing structural racism and fostering environmental justice. By advocating for regulations on clean water, restricting industrial zoning near at-risk communities, and increasing support for green infrastructure, providers can assist in alleviating the health impacts of climate change. Clinicians can also incorporate environmental health screenings into patient care, promote environmental health education, and build collaborations with organizations advancing environmental justice in healthcare.

With raised awareness and advocacy, healthcare providers and communities can strive to diminish health disparities and propel environmental justice forward, paving the path for a healthier, more equitable future.