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                                                                                                                                                                                                                       SUBSCRIBE                   PREVIOUS ISSUES​

​​​​Take Action                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               

​​Environmental Justice Trainings, Indexes and Data Maps

​​​There are a wide variety of ways in which NIH employees can help advance environmental justice (EJ) principles. By learning, getting involved and committing yourself to positive change, you can help progress EJ regardless of your status or position.

• ​Use tools to learn more. The newly released environmentaljustice.gov​ has a valuable wealth of tools and resources available for learning more about both environmental health disparities and opportunities to rectify them. Additionally, there are indexes and data maps provided by HHS​, as well as training resources offered by the DOI​ and a special screening tool from the EPA​, all of which help to improve understanding of EJ impacts, locations and solutions.
• Get involved with federal opportunities. While NIEHS, NICHD and NIMHD are at the forefront of the NIH-lead EJ initiatives, all employees are welcome to help in improving EJ practices. Consider joining the Environmental Justice and Health Interest Group​ to stay updated on EJ issues, efforts and research. If you are interested in contributing to or participating in the NIH Environmental Justice Working Group, which meets monthly and requires more active involvement, please contact Caroline Barnhart at caroline.barnhart@nih.gov​.
  
• Be the change you want to see. Environmental Justice, at its core, involves community-lead change. Therefore, there are countless ways to impact its progress on an individual level. Contributions could be internal, such as changing your purchasing or disposal habits to support or avoid detracting from vulnerable communities. Contributions could be external as well, such as reaching out to local legislators and corporations about legacy pollution or supporting access to green spaces in marginalized communities. By using resources and actions listed above, you can receive the training and data you need to be the change you want to see or support it if it is already happening.
  

Whether it’s discovering a disparity and leading in advocacy, joining a community discussion in your local area, or participating in the NIH Environmental Justice Working Group, the environmental justice movement can greatly benefit from your involvement. Community-led change starts with you!

Are you able to Take Action this month? We want to see! Send us a picture of you carrying out one of these ideas, and we might feature it in a future article.​

 Featured Article                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       

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​Environmental Justice Efforts at the NIH ​​Environmental justice (EJ) means the just treatment and meaningful involvement of all people, to fully protect them from disproportionate and adverse human health and environmental effects. Its purpose is to address the fair and equitable distribution of environmental benefits and burdens, particularly for marginalized and disadvantaged communities. Read the full article to learn what the NIH is doing about EJ!​​​ ​ LEA​RN MORE​​​​

​​Spotlight                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   

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​Environmental Justice with Dr. Trevor Archer​​ ​ ​​​Dr. Trevor Archer is the Deputy Director of NIEHS and, since 2023, he has served as the Senior Leader Point of Contact for the NIH regarding Environmental Justice under Executive Order 14096.​ Read his interview to learn about the NIH initiatives he is leading to address environmental justice.​​​ LEARN MORE

NEMS Training                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         
Did you know? ​​Environmental Justice covers a wide variety of social justice issues, such as the negative health effects of landfills placed near low income areas or the effects of a lack of access to public green spaces. To learn more about environmental justice at the NIH​​​, please visit the NEMS T​raining webpage to view a short (20 minute) NIH environmental awareness training video.​

​​​​​​​​The NIH Green Zone Newsletter is a publication intended to inform NIH staff about the Division of Environmental Protection and NIH Green Teams projects and initiatives. The text contained in this newsletter is not copyrighted and can be reprinted without permission. If you use portions of this newsletter in your own publication, we ask that you please credit the source. We welcome your ​comments and suggestions. Thank you.​​

​​ ​Division of Environmental Protection | Office of Research Facilities | Office of Management National Institutes of Health | U.S. Department of Health and Human Services​ ​

​​​If you found this article useful, please let us know! We also appreciate hearing how we might improve our future articles, including topics you would like to read about.