Coalition Letter: Canada’s draft National Strategy Respecting Environmental Racism and Environmental Justice (2026-2031)

Racialized and Indigenous communities are frequently on the front lines of climate change and environmental degradation and are more exposed to pollution than predominantly white communities. People in racialized and Indigenous communities can also face higher risks of exposure to environmental harms due to factors including their gender, sexual orientation, income, geographic location including rural and remote areas, immigration status and disability.

We recognize that the draft Strategy represents an important step in the federal government’s recognition of these inequities, but it requires significant changes before the final Strategy is released in the fall and enters implementation. We continue to advocate for the creation of a final Strategy that capitalizes on this opportunity to make meaningful efforts to address environmental racism and injustice. To be seen as a credible document consistent with the intent and requirements of the Act, the Strategy must:
– More clearly articulate the results of the examination of the link between race, socio-economic status and environmental risk, then present and maintain the data in an accessible format
– Clearly identify specific actions, accountability mechanisms, and indicators of success in relation to each priority area, supported by adequate resources for implementation.