What legal strategy claims that racial minorities face disproportionate exposure to environmental hazards?

Environmental justice is the legal strategy that addresses the disproportionate exposure of racial minorities to environmental hazards. This concept is rooted in the understanding that certain communities, particularly those composed of racial minorities, often bear the brunt of negative environmental impacts, such as pollution, toxic waste, and industrial activity. This disparity arises from a combination of socioeconomic factors and systemic inequities that lead to these communities being situated near harmful environmental conditions.

The environmental justice movement seeks to rectify these imbalances by advocating for policies that ensure fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people, regardless of race or income, in environmental decision-making processes. It highlights the importance of recognizing the historical and structural factors that contribute to the environmental burdens borne by marginalized groups, emphasizing that all communities should have the right to a healthy environment.

In contrast, affirmative action focuses on policies aimed at improving opportunities for historically underrepresented groups in areas like education and employment, while social stratification refers to the hierarchical arrangement of individuals in society based on factors such as wealth, race, and power. Cultural relativism is an anthropological concept that emphasizes understanding cultural practices within their own context, rather than judging them by the standards of another culture. These concepts, while important in their own right, do not specifically address the environmental issues