Environmental Justice is the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, national origin, or income with respect to the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies. On February 11, 1994, the President signed Executive Order (EO) 12898, Federal Actions to Address Environmental Justice in Minority and Low-Income Populations. EO 12898 states that each federal agency should make environmental justice part of its mission and focus federal attention on the environmental and human health conditions of minority and low-income populations with the goal of achieving environmental protection for all communities.
On January 27, 2021, the President issued EO 14008 affirming the federal government’s commitment to advance environmental justice.
On April 21, 2023, the President issued EO 14096, reinforcing the federal government’s commitment to advancing EJ. The EO builds upon previous efforts and directs the federal government to strengthen its dedication to delivering EJ to all communities across America that have historically experienced adverse environmental impacts. It also broadens the traditional definition of EJ to include members of tribal communities and individuals with disabilities. Additionally, EO 14096 established the Office of Environmental Justice within the White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) and requires federal agencies to develop and assess their EJ efforts. These assessments are publicly available as an Environmental Justice Scorecard.
Environmental Justice strategy
We are committed to meeting the goals of Executive Order 14008 and 12898. Please feel free to submit comments or suggestions on GSA’s EJ efforts to: EJStrategy@gsa.gov.
GSA’s EJ Strategy for FY16 - FY18 [PDF - 120 KB]
Progress reports
Background
U.S. General Services Administration