HHS Launches New Environmental Justice Index
- August 12, 2022
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) unveiled August 10 a new tool to help public health officials identify areas of the country most at risk for negative health implications due to environmental factors.
The Environmental Justice Index is the first national, geographic-driven tool that provides a single environmental justice score for local communities across the United States, HHS said.
The index, which was developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, in partnership with the HHS’ Office of Environmental Justice, is designed to help measure how pollution and other environmental hazards impact health and health equity.
“Too many communities across our nation, particularly low-income communities and communities of color, continue to bear the brunt of pollution. Meeting the needs of these communities requires our focused attention and we will use the Environmental Justice Index to do just that,” said HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra.
HHS said the index could be used to identify areas that may require additional resources to improve health and health equity; educate and inform the public about their community; analyze local factors to inform policymaking; and establish meaningful goals and measure progress towards environmental justice and health equity.