DHS Environmental Justice Program and Strategy

What is Environmental Justice?

Executive Order 14096, Revitalizing Our Nation’s Commitment to Environmental Justice for All, signed on April 21, 2023, defines environmental justice, or EJ, as the just treatment and meaningful involvement of all people, regardless of income, race, color, national origin, Tribal affiliation, or disability, in agency decision-making and other Federal activities that affect human health and the environment so that people:

• Are fully protected from disproportionate and adverse human health and environmental effects (including risks) and hazards, including those related to climate change, the cumulative impacts of environmental and other burdens, and the legacy of racism or other structural or systemic barriers;
• Have equitable access to a healthy, sustainable, and resilient environment in which to live, play, work, learn, grow, worship, and engage in cultural and subsistence practices.

How does DHS pursue and address environmental justice considerations?

Executive Order 14096, Revitalizing Our Nation’s Commitment to Environmental Justice for All, signed on April 21, 2023, defines environmental justice, or EJ, as the just treatment and meaningful involvement of all people, regardless of income, race, color, national origin, Tribal affiliation, or disability, in agency decision-making and other Federal activities that affect human health and the environment so that people:

• Are fully protected from disproportionate and adverse human health and environmental effects (including risks) and hazards, including those related to climate change, the cumulative impacts of environmental and other burdens, and the legacy of racism or other structural or systemic barriers
• Have equitable access to a healthy, sustainable, and resilient environment in which to live, play, work, learn, grow, worship, and engage in cultural and subsistence practices. 

For more information on federal environmental justice initiatives, visit the White House Environmental Justice Page

How does DHS pursue and address environmental justice considerations?

For DHS, environmental justice considerations of our programs and activities, including operational, financial assistance, and administrative, could occur during compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act; Title VI of the Civil Rights Act; and many executive orders including, but not limited to:

• Executive Order 12898, Federal Actions to Address Environmental Justice in Minority Populations and Low-Income Populations
• Executive Order 13985, Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government
• Executive Order 13990, Protecting Public Health and the Environment and Restoring Science to Tackle the Climate Crisis
• Executive Order 14008, Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad
• Executive Order 14096, Revitalizing Our Nation’s Commitment to Environmental Justice
• DHS is in alignment with White House goals to advance environmental justice. Every Component of the Department has a responsibility to consider environmental justice effects that may result from DHS or DHS-funded programs, policies, and activities.

When considering environmental justice, for example, we may analyze if our buildings contribute to poor air quality within a community with environmental justice concerns; whether historically disadvantaged communities are receiving a fair and equitable amount of financial assistance from the government to prepare for and respond to climate change; or if we are appropriately disposing of any hazardous materials. 

The DHS Phase Two Scorecard highlights our progress in advancing environmental justice in the following three areas: 

• Justice40 Initiative 
• Environmental and Civil Rights Protection 
• Institutionalizing Environmental Justice 

What is the relationship between climate change and EJ?

Climate change is an environmental justice issue. Everyone is affected by climate change; however, some communities are at a greater risk of disproportionately high and adverse human health or environmental effects from elevated temperature and weather impacts. These communities are typically low-income and consist largely of historically marginalized populations that are often co-located in areas with poorer quality infrastructure that can be less able to withstand extreme weather conditions. These communities face a greater risk of other cumulative impacts such as economic challenges, energy insecurity, and food and water insecurity. Due to lack of resources and systemic inequality, these communities are more at-risk from natural disasters and illnesses and have a greater risk of displacement due to climate change, intensified natural disasters, and rising sea levels.

EJ and Climate Change at DHS

A changing climate calls for a focus on planning for resilience to prevent, anticipate, adapt, and recover from natural and human-made disruptive events. As the Department expands adaptation, mitigation, and resilience efforts across programs, environmental justice principles must be integrated to ensure that disadvantaged populations also benefit from these programs and policies. The Department takes action in alignment with the DHS EJ Strategic Plan to integrate the principles and requirements of environmental justice and racial equity into climate change initiatives, such as through the Justice40 Initiative.

DHS and the Justice40 Initiative

The Justice40 initiative calls on Federal agencies to work with tribal nations, states, territories, and local communities to deliver at least 40% of the overall benefits from Federal investments in climate and clean energy to disadvantaged communities historically marginalized, underserved, and overburdened by pollution. Currently, DHS’s Federal Emergency Management Agency has identified four programs covered under the Justice40 Initiative. These include Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities and Flood Mitigation Assistance competitive annual grant programs, which both provide Hazard Mitigation Assistance to state, local, tribal and territorial governments to make communities more resilient to natural hazards as well as the FEMA Risk Mapping, Assessment and Planning and the Regional Catastrophic Preparedness Grant Program, which help to ensure that communities are prepared for disasters.

DHS Climate Change Initiatives

The DHS Climate Change Action Group (CCAG), comprised of senior officials from across the Department, is focused on uniting, refocusing, and elevating the Department’s efforts to tackle the climate crisis. In 2024, the Department updated our Climate Adaptation Plan to further the objectives originally outlined in the 2021 Climate Action Plan and 2021 Strategic Framework for Addressing Climate Change, which the CCAG oversees. For more information about DHS’ climate actions go to the DHS Actions: Climate Change site.

Who can I contact with an environmental justice concern or question?

For environmental, energy, sustainability, or climate resilience comments or concerns contact the Office of the Chief Readiness Support Officer’s Sustainability and Environmental Programs at sep-ephp@hq.dhs.gov.

The Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties supports the Department's mission to secure the nation while preserving individual liberty, fairness, and equality under the law and can be reached at CRCL@hq.dhs.gov.

The DHS Environmental Justice Program may also be reached at DHSEnvironmentalJustice@hq.dhs.gov.

Additionally, the National Environmental Justice Advisory Committee (NEJAC) is a federal advisory committee on environmental justice. Members of the public are encouraged to attend NEJAC meetings to provide input on federal EJ initiatives.