Association Of Ecosystem Research Centers
2023 Annual Meeting
October 24-25, 2023
In Person
|
Schedule of Events
|
October 24, 2023
|
1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
|
Annual AERC Meeting
FIU in Washington DC 601 New Jersey Ave NW Washington DC, 20001 |
October 25, 2023
|
9:30 am - 10:30 am
|
Congressional Briefing: Federal Agency Perspectives on Advancing Environmental Justice in the 21st Century
Location Rayburn 2325 The Executive Branch of the Federal Government has recently begun to focus on Environmental Justice as a core element of its mission and numerous Executive Orders have been enacted that provide guiding principles on how federal agencies should allocate time, energy, and funding to support issues of Environmental Justice in the US. Often, these mandates are tied to issues of human and environmental health (EO 12898, Federal Actions to Address Environmental Justice in Minority Populations and Low-income Populations, Section 1-1, Implementation), climate change (EO 14008, Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad, Section 219, Securing Environmental Justice and Spurring Economic Opportunity), and clean energy (EO 14057, Catalyzing Clean Energy Industries and Jobs Through Federal Sustainability, Section 402, Incorporating Environmental Justice). These emerging priorities in the Executive Branch have led to increased prioritization of Environmental Justice through increased federal grant funding (e.g., Justice 40 Initiative), increased emphasis on Environmental Justice in agency strategic plans (e.g., US EPA 2022-2026 Strategic Plan), and direct orders designed to increase agency-wide budgetary spending for Environmental Justice measures (e.g., DOE Order 436.1A, Departmental Sustainability). Given the direct tie between ecosystem science and the issues that surround Environmental Justice, AERC has invited leaders from the US Department of Energy, the US Environmental Protection Agency, and the US Geological Survey to provide insights into how these agencies are addressing new challenges and mandates focused on Environmental Justice. Briefing Speakers: Dr. Melinda Downing Environmental Justice Program Manager, Department of Energy Advancing the Department of Energy's Environmental Justice Program Dr. Matthew Tejada Director, Office of Environmental Justice, Environmental Protection Agency EJ and the EPA Today Mr. Sachin Shah Manager of the Social & Economic Drivers Program for the Water Mission Area & Environmental Justice Science Advisor, U.S. Geological Survey Integrated Science & Risk-Informed Decisions for Environmental Justice |