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People who have had less political power – particularly people who are Black, Indigenous, and People of Color, as well as low-income communities – have faced greater environmental degradation. They have not been well-represented in groups like IEC that advocate for a cleaner environment. Progress that only benefits those in power cannot fulfill our vision.
IEC recognizes that communities that are the hardest hit by the impacts of climate change and pollution may also have the least amount of capacity to respond to them. Therefore, we must ensure that equity and justice considerations are meaningfully included in all of IEC’s work and policy positions. This includes a just energy transition away from fossil fuels by minimizing the energy burden on Iowans, particularly those directly impacted by Iowa's remaining coal plants. Additionally, everyone deserves access to clean drinking water, protected public recreation areas, and a sense of safety in their communities.
IEC welcomes diversity amongst staff, but we acknowledge that our voice alone does not adequately serve the needs of the Iowan public. We recognize that in order to build a more just and equitable Iowa, it is imperative to elevate the voices of local leaders and amplify their work to implement real solutions to the real challenges faced in Iowa’s most disadvantaged communities.
On April 23, 2024, the EPA announced the Environmental Justice Clearinghouse, an online collection of environmental justice resources, to help the public access federal and non-federal resources for their communities. Learn more about the announcement and toolkit at the EPA's website.
An analysis of demographics, pollutants, and burdens using data from the Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool (CEJST).
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EPA Region 7's Thriving Communities Technical Assistance Center (TCTAC) is the Heartland Environmental Justice Center (HEJC). IEC serves as a partner organization to stretch the HEJC's outreach to Iowa communities.