California AG Bonta Defends Environmental Justice With 12 States

Every person deserves clean air and safe water, no matter where they live. This core belief fuels environmental justice, a movement grounded in equality. On June 17, 2025, California Attorney General Rob Bonta joined 12 other state attorneys general to issue a forceful guidance defending these initiatives. Their action confronts the Trump administration’s efforts to dismantle policies that protect communities hardest hit by pollution.

Co-led by Massachusetts and New York, the coalition includes states like Oregon, Maryland, and Vermont. Their stance is unwavering: no federal executive order can erase the right to a healthy environment. With the administration cutting programs aimed at reducing toxic exposure, the question arises: why should some neighborhoods endure more harm? These states vow to uphold fairness despite federal resistance.

Environmental justice demands equal access to a safe environment for everyone. Its origins lie in civil rights battles, like the 1982 protests in Warren County, North Carolina, where Black residents opposed a toxic landfill. Today, low-income communities and communities of color still face heavier pollution burdens. A 2024 California study revealed that neighborhoods redlined in the 1930s, deemed undesirable for loans, now endure twice the air pollution of wealthier areas.

Climate change deepens these gaps. EPA data show low-income households are 25% less likely to have cooling during heatwaves that killed 1,600 Americans in 2024. Globally, 32 million people were displaced by climate disasters in 2022, with poorer nations hit hardest, per Oxfam. These realities highlight the need for policies targeting those most at risk, as California and others argue for urgent action to address health and equity.

The Trump administration has moved swiftly to weaken environmental justice. Since January 2025, executive orders have eliminated federal equity programs and halted pollution enforcement in overburdened areas. In February, the U.S. Attorney General revoked all related guidance, arguing it skewed priorities. Such actions challenge decades of laws, including the Clean Air Act, which empower efforts to reduce harm in vulnerable communities.

States refuse to yield. The June 2025 guidance asserts that federal directives cannot override Congress or constitutional protections. Attorneys general commit to safeguarding local governments and organizations advancing equity. This defiance recalls the 1980s, when Congress blocked Reagan’s attempts to weaken environmental rules. Today, states like Washington mandate 40% of environmental funds reach high-risk areas, setting a bold example.

Past policies like redlining shaped today’s environmental inequities. In the 1930s, federal maps labeled minority neighborhoods as risky, denying them investment. A 2025 study found these areas now face 30% higher odds of hazards like toxic waste. Black children in these zones have asthma rates 40% higher than elsewhere. How can we overlook this link between history and current health crises?

States are acting where federal efforts wane. Colorado’s EnviroScreen maps guide permits to protect polluted areas. New Jersey’s equity tools ensure permits account for community impacts. These steps show states can lead, even as federal courts consider cases that could limit national environmental powers.

The 13-state guidance offers hope, affirming that communities can legally fight for cleaner environments. By enforcing existing laws, states like California and Connecticut signal that equity remains a priority. This builds on victories like the 2007 Supreme Court decision empowering states to demand federal climate action.

Challenges persist. Lawsuits from conservative-led states, such as those targeting California’s vehicle emission standards, seek to curb state authority. Plans like the Heritage Foundation’s Project 2025 aim to gut EPA programs. Yet states and advocates stand firm, backed by evidence that equitable policies create healthier communities.

Environmental justice demands ongoing commitment. As climate threats grow, policies must prioritize those most affected. The attorneys general’s guidance serves as a rallying point, urging action to ensure every community can thrive. Their resolve lights the way toward a fairer, healthier future.