About the Environmental Justice Green Book

Mission

The Environmental Justice Green Book seeks to empower Georgia residents, community groups, and non-profit organizations with information and tools to better protect their communities, public health, and the environment. The EJ Green Book provides information and resources about environmental issues, laws, and tools to support Georgia residents and communities tackling environmental challenges.

 

Vision

Empower Georgia residents and communities with information about laws that impact their environmental conditions and provide the tools to effect change.

 

Focus

Environmental justice, resilience, equity, and legal empowerment for marginalized communities affected by toxic pollution and climate change.

 

Who is the EJ Green Book for?

Georgia residents, community groups, and non-profit organizations seeking to understand the environmental laws that impact where we live and the tools that can help protect the environment and community health. Policymakers, activists, advocates, and researchers working to create a more equitable and just future for our communities and environment.

 

Background

Over the last five decades, environmental regulations in the United States have provided a sense of security, but not everyone is equally protected. People of Color and low-wealth communities often suffer disproportionately from toxic pollution and climate change impacts.

Communities of color and low-wealth neighborhoods frequently face the inequitable placement of polluting industries like landfills and power plants, exposing them to health risks. To create a resilient and just future, we must empower communities with tools like legal education.

In 2007, GreenLaw and the Turner Environmental Law Clinic published a citizen’s guide to environmental protection in Georgia. Now, with significant updates, the Turner Clinic, Southern Environmental Law Center, and Hummingbird present the expanded Environmental Justice Green Book.

Understanding environmental laws impacting your community is crucial for protecting the environment. However, environmental laws are complex, so consulting experts like lawyers and engineers is essential. This resource is no substitute for professional advice.

Inspired by Victor Hugo Green’s Green Book of the Civil Rights era, we present this Environmental Justice Green Book with respect and hope for a more equitable future.

Environmental Justice Green Book Partners

The EJ Green Book is a collaboration by:

 

Turner Environmental Law Clinic,
Emory University School of Law

The Turner Environmental Law Clinic provides important pro bono representation to individuals, community groups, and non-profit organizations that seek to protect and restore the natural environment and promote environmental justice. Through its work, the Clinic offers students an intense, hands-on introduction to environmental law and trains the next generation of environmental attorneys.

Southern Environmental Law Center

The Southern Environmental Law Center is one of the nation’s most powerful defenders of the environment, rooted in the South. With a long track record, SELC takes on the toughest environmental challenges in court, in government, and in our communities to protect our region’s air, water, climate, wildlife, lands, and people. Nonprofit and nonpartisan, the organization has a staff of 200, including more than 100 attorneys, and is headquartered in Charlottesville, Va., with offices in Asheville, Atlanta, Birmingham, Chapel Hill, Charleston, Nashville, Richmond, and Washington, D.C.

Hummingbird

Hummingbird is a community engagement firm. We build trust across cultural boundaries, innovating the way groups communicate by moving like a hummingbird: in every direction.  Our strategy and training helps companies and communities engage with each other to create a lasting positive impact.

Funders

We want to thank the following organizations for their support and contributions to this project:

 

The Ray C. Anderson Foundation

The Ray C. Anderson Foundation seeks to promote a sustainable society by supporting and pioneering initiatives that harmonize society, business and the environment for the present generation and tomorrow’s child.

We will achieve this mission through inspiring and funding innovative, educational and project-based initiatives.

Sapelo Foundation

The Sapelo Foundation strives for a just Georgia, through partnerships and solutions that increase environmental protection, social prosperity, and civic power.

Southern Environmental Law Center

The Southern Environmental Law Center is one of the nation’s most powerful defenders of the environment, rooted in the South. With a long track record, SELC takes on the toughest environmental challenges in court, in government, and in our communities to protect our region’s air, water, climate, wildlife, lands, and people. Nonprofit and nonpartisan, the organization has a staff of 200, including more than 100 attorneys, and is headquartered in Charlottesville, Va., with offices in Asheville, Atlanta, Birmingham, Chapel Hill, Charleston, Nashville, Richmond, and Washington, D.C.

Principal Authors

The principal authors of the EJ Green Book:
    • Katie Bauman, Fellow, Turner Environmental Law Clinic
    • Marisa Carter, Community Engagement Strategist, Hummingbird
    • Mindy Goldstein, Director, Turner Environmental Law Clinic
    • Megan Huynh, Senior Attorney, Southern Environmental Law Center
    • Gil Rogers, Director, Georgia Office, Southern Environmental Law Center
    • MaKara Rumley, Founder & CEO, Hummingbird
    • Geoffrey Toy, Fellow, Turner Environmental Law Clinic

 

Reviewers

We would like to thank and recognize experts who provided invaluable guidance in the development of the EJ Green Book:
    • Leann Bing
    • Michael Burns
    • Charlette Clark
    • Jacqueline Echols
    • Lindsay Harper
    • Garry Harris
    • Janie Hill-Scott
    • Megan Hyunh
    • Kevin Jeselnik
    • Chris Manganiello
    • Eri Saikawa
    • Nathaniel Smith
    • MaKara Rumley

Law Student Contributors

We want to thank and recognize the law students who contributed to the EJ Green Book:
    • Shiva Ashrafzadeh
    • Matthew Belitsos
    • Paige Burris
    • Maggie Clark
    • Charli Davis
    • Lewis DeHope
    • Sami Harrell
    • Jesse Hevia
    • Kamil Jamil
    • Samuel Lack
    • Brian Landau
    • Marnier LeBlanc
    • Alyson Merlin
    • Sealtiel Ortega-Rodriguez
    • Alex Passe
    • Savanha Renald
    • Brandon Sinnott
    • Phyllicia Thomas
    • Daniel Zozaya Brown