Nature Does Not Discriminate (But the Government Does): Governance, the Environment, and the Disadvantaged of North Carolina

Abstract

Though the Environmental Justice movement was conceived decades ago, discriminatory practices are still inherently present in governing infrastructures. This report examines the ways administrative bodies in segregated spaces can facilitate environmental inequality. To illustrate this claim, I present three case studies regarding various communities in North Carolina to critically analyze their relationship with governance structures. The first case study illustrates the ecological burdens of unincorporated communities in the absence of local municipalities. The second study examines the environmental vulnerability of a racially segregated neighborhood through historical contexts. The final case study demonstrates the ways in which social networks impede resource acquisition and how regulatory regimes further energy poverty. Though these studies exemplify three distinct forms of environmental inequality, they exemplify a singular and widespread lack of government engagement. After discussing each case study, I suggest the hardships endured by these disadvantaged populations deserve greater attention from the state and federal government, especially considering the looming threat of climate change.