Climate Governance and Equity

Environmental Justice Bureaucracy

Environmental justice (EJ) staff are employees of a state office or agency who are dedicated to developing, implementing, and evaluating EJ policies and programs. These staff members work to address EJ issues in communities across the state, and their work often includes engaging with communities for consultation on environmental justice issues, especially related to providing guidance for state environmental grants, enhancing participation in permitting processes, improving environmental education among residents, and elevating community stakeholders such as EJ organizations, Tribal governments, labor groups, and others during agency policy development and implementation processes. They can also assist with coordinating EJ initiatives between the governor and state agencies.

Request Policy Assistance

Glossary of Terms

States with Policy Enacted

In Progress

Partially Enacted

See States List

Key Resources

Glossary of Terms

Environmental Justice State Directory

A database of environmental justice laws, policies, mapping tools, and definitions across U.S. states and territories.

2022

Source:

Environmental Justice State by State

Public Participation Guide

A guide that identifies best practices for planning, skills and behaviors that government agencies can use to design and implement a meaningful public participation program for government agencies.

2024

Source:

U.S. EPA

State and Federal Environmental Justice Efforts

An overview of federal and state policies and actions, including state offices and task forces, permitting reform, and EJ community identification.

2023

Source:

National Conference of State Legislatures

Model States

Glossary of Terms

Colorado

CDPHE – Environmental Justice Ombudsman

CDPHE – Environmental Justice team

Office of Environmental Justice

2021

Establishing Policies

Massachusetts

EEA – Environmental Justice Task Force

EEA – Undersecretary of Environmental Justice & Equity

EEA – Director and Deputy Director of Environmental Justice

DEP – Director of Environmental Justice

DPU – Environmental Justice Contact

Establishing Policies

New Jersey

NJDEP – Office of Environmental Justice

Environmental Justice Interagency Council (EJIC)

Establishing Policies

Washington

Department of Ecology – Office of Equity & Environmental Justice

Department of Ecology – Environmental Justice & Title VI Senior Advisor

DOH – Environmental Justice Council Staff

DOT – Environmental Justice Staff

2021

Establishing Policies

Glossary of Terms

Filters

Status	State Sort descending	Region	YR Enacted
Enacted	Alabama Empty column Department of Environmental Management – EJ Coordinator Establishing Policies Department of Environmental Management – EJ Coordinator Empty column	Southeast
Not Enacted	Alaska Empty column Environmental justice (EJ) bureaucracy consists of dedicated EJ offices and staff, interagency task forces, and other bodies made up of government staff responsible for developing and implementing EJ policy. These entities are often tasked with integrating EJ and equity into climate policy design and implementation. Empty column	West
Not Enacted	Arizona Empty column Environmental justice (EJ) bureaucracy consists of dedicated EJ offices and staff, interagency task forces, and other bodies made up of government staff responsible for developing and implementing EJ policy. These entities are often tasked with integrating EJ and equity into climate policy design and implementation. Empty column	Southwest
Not Enacted	Arkansas Empty column Environmental justice (EJ) bureaucracy consists of dedicated EJ offices and staff, interagency task forces, and other bodies made up of government staff responsible for developing and implementing EJ policy. These entities are often tasked with integrating EJ and equity into climate policy design and implementation. Empty column	Southeast
Enacted	California Empty column Office of the Attorney General – Bureau of Environmental Justice CalEPA – Environmental Justice Task Force CARB – Environmental Justice Section Establishing Policies Office of the Attorney General – Bureau of Environmental Justice CalEPA – Environmental Justice Task Force CARB – Environmental Justice Section Empty column	West
Enacted	Colorado Empty column CDPHE – Environmental Justice Ombudsman CDPHE – Environmental Justice team Office of Environmental Justice Establishing Policies HB 21-1266 (2021) HB 24-1338 (2024) CDPHE – Environmental Justice Ombudsman CDPHE – Environmental Justice team Empty column	West	2021
Enacted	Connecticut Empty column DEEP – Environmental Justice Program Staff Establishing Policies DEEP – Environmental Justice Program Staff Empty column	Northeast
Enacted	Delaware Empty column DNREC – Environmental Justice Office DNREC – Environmental Justice Coordinator Establishing Policies DNREC – Environmental Justice Office and EJ Coordinator Empty column	Southeast
Not Enacted	Florida Empty column Environmental justice (EJ) bureaucracy consists of dedicated EJ offices and staff, interagency task forces, and other bodies made up of government staff responsible for developing and implementing EJ policy. These entities are often tasked with integrating EJ and equity into climate policy design and implementation. Empty column	Southeast
Not Enacted	Georgia Empty column Environmental justice (EJ) bureaucracy consists of dedicated EJ offices and staff, interagency task forces, and other bodies made up of government staff responsible for developing and implementing EJ policy. These entities are often tasked with integrating EJ and equity into climate policy design and implementation. Empty column	Southeast
Not Enacted	Hawai‘i Empty column Environmental justice (EJ) bureaucracy consists of dedicated EJ offices and staff, interagency task forces, and other bodies made up of government staff responsible for developing and implementing EJ policy. These entities are often tasked with integrating EJ and equity into climate policy design and implementation. Empty column	West
Not Enacted	Idaho Empty column Environmental justice (EJ) bureaucracy consists of dedicated EJ offices and staff, interagency task forces, and other bodies made up of government staff responsible for developing and implementing EJ policy. These entities are often tasked with integrating EJ and equity into climate policy design and implementation. Empty column	West
Enacted	Illinois Empty column Illinois EPA – EJ Coordinator Illinois EPA – Office of Environmental Justice Establishing Policies Illinois EPA – EJ Coordinator Illinois EPA – Office of Environmental Justice Empty column	Midwest
Not Enacted	Indiana Empty column Environmental justice (EJ) bureaucracy consists of dedicated EJ offices and staff, interagency task forces, and other bodies made up of government staff responsible for developing and implementing EJ policy. These entities are often tasked with integrating EJ and equity into climate policy design and implementation. Empty column	Midwest
Not Enacted	Iowa Empty column Environmental justice (EJ) bureaucracy consists of dedicated EJ offices and staff, interagency task forces, and other bodies made up of government staff responsible for developing and implementing EJ policy. These entities are often tasked with integrating EJ and equity into climate policy design and implementation. Empty column	Midwest
Not Enacted	Kansas Empty column Environmental justice (EJ) bureaucracy consists of dedicated EJ offices and staff, interagency task forces, and other bodies made up of government staff responsible for developing and implementing EJ policy. These entities are often tasked with integrating EJ and equity into climate policy design and implementation. Empty column	Midwest
Not Enacted	Kentucky Empty column Environmental justice (EJ) bureaucracy consists of dedicated EJ offices and staff, interagency task forces, and other bodies made up of government staff responsible for developing and implementing EJ policy. These entities are often tasked with integrating EJ and equity into climate policy design and implementation. Empty column	Southeast
Not Enacted	Louisiana Empty column Environmental justice (EJ) bureaucracy consists of dedicated EJ offices and staff, interagency task forces, and other bodies made up of government staff responsible for developing and implementing EJ policy. These entities are often tasked with integrating EJ and equity into climate policy design and implementation. Empty column	Southeast
Not Enacted	Maine Empty column Environmental justice (EJ) bureaucracy consists of dedicated EJ offices and staff, interagency task forces, and other bodies made up of government staff responsible for developing and implementing EJ policy. These entities are often tasked with integrating EJ and equity into climate policy design and implementation. Empty column	Northeast
Enacted	Maryland Empty column MDE – EJ Coordinator The Climate Solutions Now Act of 2022 also requires the Maryland Department of Environment to provide staff for the Commission on Environmental Justice and Sustainable Communities Establishing Policies SB 528 - Climate Solutions Now Act of 2022 (2022) MDE – EJ Coordinator Empty column	Southeast	2022
Enacted	Massachusetts Empty column EEA – Environmental Justice Task Force EEA – Undersecretary of Environmental Justice & Equity EEA – Director and Deputy Director of Environmental Justice DEP – Director of Environmental Justice DPU – Environmental Justice Contact Establishing Policies EEA Environmental Justice Task Force EEA – Undersecretary of Environmental Justice & Equity (2023) DEP – Director of Environmental Justice DPU – Environmental Justice Contact Empty column	Northeast
Enacted	Michigan Empty column EGLE – Office of the EJ Public Advocate Michigan Interagency Environmental Justice Response Team Establishing Policies Executive Order 2019-06 (2019) EGLE – Office of the EJ Public Advocate Michigan Interagency Environmental Justice Response Team Empty column	Midwest	2019
Enacted	Minnesota Empty column MPCA – Environmental Justice Coordinator Establishing Policies MPCA – Environmental Justice Coordinator Empty column	Midwest
Not Enacted	Mississippi Empty column Environmental justice (EJ) bureaucracy consists of dedicated EJ offices and staff, interagency task forces, and other bodies made up of government staff responsible for developing and implementing EJ policy. These entities are often tasked with integrating EJ and equity into climate policy design and implementation. Empty column	Southeast
Not Enacted	Missouri Empty column Environmental justice (EJ) bureaucracy consists of dedicated EJ offices and staff, interagency task forces, and other bodies made up of government staff responsible for developing and implementing EJ policy. These entities are often tasked with integrating EJ and equity into climate policy design and implementation. Empty column	Midwest
Not Enacted	Montana Empty column Environmental justice (EJ) bureaucracy consists of dedicated EJ offices and staff, interagency task forces, and other bodies made up of government staff responsible for developing and implementing EJ policy. These entities are often tasked with integrating EJ and equity into climate policy design and implementation. Empty column	West
Not Enacted	Nebraska Empty column Environmental justice (EJ) bureaucracy consists of dedicated EJ offices and staff, interagency task forces, and other bodies made up of government staff responsible for developing and implementing EJ policy. These entities are often tasked with integrating EJ and equity into climate policy design and implementation. Empty column	Midwest
Not Enacted	Nevada Empty column Environmental justice (EJ) bureaucracy consists of dedicated EJ offices and staff, interagency task forces, and other bodies made up of government staff responsible for developing and implementing EJ policy. These entities are often tasked with integrating EJ and equity into climate policy design and implementation. Empty column	West
Not Enacted	New Hampshire Empty column Environmental justice (EJ) bureaucracy consists of dedicated EJ offices and staff, interagency task forces, and other bodies made up of government staff responsible for developing and implementing EJ policy. These entities are often tasked with integrating EJ and equity into climate policy design and implementation. Empty column	Northeast
Enacted	New Jersey Empty column NJDEP – Office of Environmental Justice Environmental Justice Interagency Council (EJIC) Establishing Policies NJDEP – Office of Environmental Justice Environmental Justice Interagency Council (EJIC) Empty column	Northeast
Enacted	New Mexico Empty column NMED – Environmental Justice Coordinator Establishing Policies NMED – Environmental Justice Coordinator Empty column	Southwest
Enacted	New York Empty column NY DEC – Office of Environmental Justice Environmental Justice Interagency Coordinating Council Establishing Policies S2385 (2019) NY DEC – Office of Environmental Justice Empty column	Northeast	2019
Enacted	North Carolina Empty column Cabinet Agencies Environmental Justice and Equity Leads NCDEQ – Environmental Justice Coordinator Establishing Policies Executive Order 246 (2022) Cabinet Agencies Environmental Justice and Equity Leads NCDEQ – Environmental Justice Coordinator Empty column	Southeast	2022
Not Enacted	North Dakota Empty column Environmental justice (EJ) bureaucracy consists of dedicated EJ offices and staff, interagency task forces, and other bodies made up of government staff responsible for developing and implementing EJ policy. These entities are often tasked with integrating EJ and equity into climate policy design and implementation. Empty column	Midwest
Not Enacted	Ohio Empty column Environmental justice (EJ) bureaucracy consists of dedicated EJ offices and staff, interagency task forces, and other bodies made up of government staff responsible for developing and implementing EJ policy. These entities are often tasked with integrating EJ and equity into climate policy design and implementation. Empty column	Midwest
Not Enacted	Oklahoma Empty column Environmental justice (EJ) bureaucracy consists of dedicated EJ offices and staff, interagency task forces, and other bodies made up of government staff responsible for developing and implementing EJ policy. These entities are often tasked with integrating EJ and equity into climate policy design and implementation. Empty column	Southwest
Enacted	Oregon Empty column OR DEQ – Environmental Justice Coordinator HB 4077 also requires the Department of Environmental Quality to provide staff support to the EJ Council Establishing Policies HB 4077 (2022) OR DEQ – Environmental Justice Coordinator Empty column	West	2022
Enacted	Pennsylvania Empty column PA DEP – Office of Environmental Justice Environmental Justice Interagency Council Establishing Policies Executive Order 2021-07 (2021) PA DEP – Office of Environmental Justice Environmental Justice Interagency Council Empty column	Northeast	2021
Not Enacted	Rhode Island Empty column Environmental justice (EJ) bureaucracy consists of dedicated EJ offices and staff, interagency task forces, and other bodies made up of government staff responsible for developing and implementing EJ policy. These entities are often tasked with integrating EJ and equity into climate policy design and implementation. Empty column	Northeast
Enacted	South Carolina Empty column DHEC – Environmental Justice Coordinator and Environmental Justice Associate Establishing Policies DHEC – Environmental Justice Coordinator and Environmental Justice Associate Empty column	Southeast
Not Enacted	South Dakota Empty column Environmental justice (EJ) bureaucracy consists of dedicated EJ offices and staff, interagency task forces, and other bodies made up of government staff responsible for developing and implementing EJ policy. These entities are often tasked with integrating EJ and equity into climate policy design and implementation. Empty column	Midwest
Not Enacted	Tennessee Empty column Environmental justice (EJ) bureaucracy consists of dedicated EJ offices and staff, interagency task forces, and other bodies made up of government staff responsible for developing and implementing EJ policy. These entities are often tasked with integrating EJ and equity into climate policy design and implementation. Empty column	Southeast
Not Enacted	Texas Empty column Environmental justice (EJ) bureaucracy consists of dedicated EJ offices and staff, interagency task forces, and other bodies made up of government staff responsible for developing and implementing EJ policy. These entities are often tasked with integrating EJ and equity into climate policy design and implementation. Empty column	Southwest
Not Enacted	Utah Empty column Environmental justice (EJ) bureaucracy consists of dedicated EJ offices and staff, interagency task forces, and other bodies made up of government staff responsible for developing and implementing EJ policy. These entities are often tasked with integrating EJ and equity into climate policy design and implementation. Empty column	West
Enacted	Vermont Empty column Interagency Environmental Justice Committee ANR – Office of Civil Rights and Environmental Justice Establishing Policies SB 148 (2022) ANR – Office of Civil Rights and Environmental Justice Interagency Environmental Justice Committee Empty column	Northeast	2022
Enacted	Virginia Empty column DEQ – Office of Environmental Justice Environmental Justice Interagency Working Group Establishing Policies SB 406 (2020) Environmental Justice Interagency Working Group DEQ – Office of Environmental Justice (2021) Empty column	Southeast	2021
Enacted	Washington Empty column Department of Ecology – Office of Equity & Environmental Justice Department of Ecology – Environmental Justice & Title VI Senior Advisor DOH – Environmental Justice Council Staff DOT – Environmental Justice Staff Establishing Policies SB 5141 (2021) Department of Ecology – Office of Equity & Environmental Justice DOH – Environmental Justice Council Staff DOT – Environmental Justice Staff Empty column	West	2021
Not Enacted	West Virginia Empty column Environmental justice (EJ) bureaucracy consists of dedicated EJ offices and staff, interagency task forces, and other bodies made up of government staff responsible for developing and implementing EJ policy. These entities are often tasked with integrating EJ and equity into climate policy design and implementation. Empty column	Southeast
In-Progress	Wisconsin Empty column WI DNR – Environmental Justice Policy Advisor Governor Evers signed an executive order to create the Wisconsin Office of Environmental Justice Establishing Policies Executive Order 161 (2022) Empty column	Midwest	2022
Not Enacted	Wyoming Empty column Environmental justice (EJ) bureaucracy consists of dedicated EJ offices and staff, interagency task forces, and other bodies made up of government staff responsible for developing and implementing EJ policy. These entities are often tasked with integrating EJ and equity into climate policy design and implementation. Empty column	West

Environmental Justice Bureaucracy

Key Resources

Environmental Justice State Directory

Public Participation Guide

State and Federal Environmental Justice Efforts

Model States

Colorado

Massachusetts

New Jersey

Washington

Environmental Justice Bureaucracy By State