Climate Change and Environmental Justice in Orange County
- alisoviejoyouthcou
- Dec 27, 2023
- 3 min read
By: Carina Leo
Orange County - renowned for its stunning coastline, celebrity residents with staggering financial profiles, Disneyland and more; to many the OC is synonymous with affluence. But there are many more people in Orange County than the extremely wealthy, and several
local marginalized groups face serious issues with little to no public attention. One of the most pressing issues affecting Orange County citizens is environmental injustice. Some might be quick to lump environmental inequity under the umbrella of the climate crisis,
dismissing it as yet another distant hot topic plaguing the world on such a grand scale the average person dismisses it as another sound bite. Climate change is the long term shift in temperatures and weather patterns, primarily driven by the industrialization of human
activities. Combined with societal inequities, the resulting environmental racism is important to understand and combat.
Orange County is not immune to this problem. Looking beyond the “coastal elite” neighborhoods, many middle to lower income communities are susceptible to these risks. Environmental injustice, sometimes known as environmental racism, is a form of systemic
inequality where a disproportionate amount of harmful environmental issues affect communities of people of color. According to UCI scientists, in Orange County, this is especially true for “...low income...Latino neighborhoods”(Brazil, Los Angeles Times) . Health outcomes are influenced by a number of environmental considerations, including pesticide use, soil contamination, food & water safety, air quality, and the stress of noise/light/industrial pollution, for example. Many are plagued with the health
consequences of chronic exposure to these pollutants, including issues like “...respiratory infections, heart disease, and lung cancer”(World Health Organization). Lead contamination
in soil is an especially prevalent issue today, affecting multiple lower income neighborhoods in Orange County (Brazil, Los Angeles Times). While these matters have the potential to affect all of the people , it's clear that those of lower socioeconomic status are less equipped to buffer the impact of these environmental attacks, and a large proportion of those in this category are minority groups. In fact, UCI researchers have substantiated that climate change threatens to worsen environmental health disparities,which impacts minority and lower socio-economic communities disproportionately.(Brazil, Los Angeles Times) Obvious examples include the increased cost of organic foods, or housing in areas of lower pollution. Another environmental matter affecting these communities is a lack of
green space, which according to Dr. Eugenia South is conducive to positive changes in “air quality...” and it is also known to “..decrease stress” (Sherise Roberts, Dr., ABC News). Additionally, the urgency of current challenges and systemic barriers often precludes these
communities from prioritizing prevention of future health concerns.
The debate over climate change has been newsworthy for the entirety of our generations lives. But it’s no longer a problem of the future, a concern about the world we are leaving our great grandchildren. Rather, the future is now, and if you aren’t concerned about trees or ocean habitats, you should be concerned about how your health and lifestyle will be affected by environmental considerations throughout your lifetime. As the debate around
climate change rages on, there are many reasonable solutions each of us can be a part of today. We can make mindful choices to reduce our own carbon footprints, care for every environment we interact with and leave these places better than they were found, from our
beautiful beaches to school fields or industrial areas. We should openly and attentively listen to the leading scientific researchers in our community for guidance towards large scale improvements. Most importantly, we can elevate our voices for our community as a
whole, particularly for those less able to advocate for themselves, in a concerted effort to reduce environmental injustice throughout Orange County. Organizations such as the Orange County Environmental Justice Educational Fund (found at ocej.org) and more are dedicated to addressing and continuing the fight for this noteworthy cause.
Sources Cited
Roberts, Sherise. “Lack of Green Neighborhoods: A Public Health Concern.” ABC News, ABC News Network, abcnews.go.com/Health/lack-green-neighborhoods-public-health-concern/story?id=66695843. Accessed 19 Oct. 2023.
Bell, Brian. “UC Irvine Researchers Embark on $7.5 Million Environmental Justice Initiative // Special Report: Climate Change // UCI.” / Special Report: Climate Change/ UCI, specialreports.news.uci.edu/climate-change/education-andoutreach/nsf-funding-environmental-justice-initiative.php. Accessed 19 Oct. 2023.
Cheav, Maya. “Environmental Injustice in a Community near Chapman - a Glimpse into the Soil Lead Issue in Santa Ana.” Sustainability, Chapman University, 9 Dec. 2022,
Brazil, Ben. “UCI Center Will Dig into Environmental Justice Issues in Orange County’s Vulnerable Communities.” Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 20 Oct. 2021,
“What Is Climate Change?” NASA, NASA, 27 Sept. 2023,
“Health Consequences of Air Pollution on Populations.” World Health Organization, World Health Organization,
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