Who Is Planning for Environmental Justice—and How?

Problem, research strategy, and findings Environmental justice (EJ) seeks to correct legacies of disproportionately burdening low-income Black, Indigenous, people color (BIPOC) communities with environmental hazards that contribute health inequalities. Federal state policies increasingly require plans assess incorporate EJ principles. The current lack accessible data plan evaluation on has been a barrier policy setting benchmarking. We created framework for analyzing content across large corpus by using quantitative text analysis 461 California city general plans, also known as comprehensive plans. To verify results identify specific policies, we conducted subset seven Demonstrating the broad applicability principles in planning, spanned all required elements plans: housing, circulation, land use, health, safety, open space, air quality, noise. found most headway planning made cities majority population well before 2018 mandate address EJ. Policies were primarily focused preventing adverse exposures opposed correcting inequality. Further, although vulnerable populations places, very few specifically race or racism. Thus, largely operationalized equity.Takeaway practice identified 628 included analysis. smorgasbord approaches provides fodder United States an approach planning. Gaps focus areas reveal room innovation (e.g., emphasis language justice, formerly incarcerated individuals, noise ordinance policing). invite planners community advocates search California’s inspiration use appendix cataloged this benchmark city-level innovation.