Introduction
Long Island Sound Study (LISS) is a cooperative effort to restore the ecological health of Long Island Sound, an estuary in the United States bordering the states of Connecticut and New York. The study addresses environmental issues, including water quality, habitat loss, and declining living resources, through research, monitoring, public outreach, and education programs. In this essay, I will address the aspects of environmental justice and explore the community’s efforts, outside allies’ actions, policies in place, potential interventions, barriers, achievements, failures, and setbacks, and provide recommendations for future actions.
Community Actions
The Long Island Sound Study has been actively engaged in addressing environmental injustice by working with local communities and organizations to promote environmental awareness and sustainability (Judd et al., 2020). . Community groups have organized cleanup activities, beach cleanups, and environmental education programs to increase public awareness about environmental issues and the need for action.
Allies from Outside the Community
Allies from outside the community, such as non-profit organizations, academic institutions, and federal and state agencies, have also been involved in the Long Island Sound Study (Rickenbacker et al., 2019). These organizations have provided funding, technical support, and resources to help the community address environmental issues. They have also played a role in advocating for local, state, and federal environmental policies.
Policies in Place
Local, state, and federal policies are crucial in addressing environmental injustice. At the local level, policies such as the Long Island Sound Blue Plan and the Long Island Sound Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan have been implemented to protect and restore the estuary’s ecological health (Judd et al., 2020). At the state and federal levels, policies such as the Clean Water Act, the National Estuary Program, and the Coastal Zone Management Act provide a framework for protecting and restoring the estuary and addressing environmental injustice.
Interventions
Interventions can occur at the individual, micro, mezzo, or macro level. At the individual level, individuals can reduce their carbon footprint, conserve water, and participate in community cleanup activities. At the micro level, community organizations can work together to advocate for environmental policies and provide education and outreach programs (Judd et al., 2020). At the mezzo level, regional and state-level organizations can work together to address cross-boundary issues and promote regional collaboration. At the macro level, federal and international organizations can provide funding and technical support to address environmental issues on a larger scale.
Barriers
Limited resources are a significant barrier to addressing environmental injustice in Long Island Sound. Environmental organizations, communities, and government agencies often need more funding and resources to carry out comprehensive programs to restore the estuary’s ecological health (Rickenbacker et al., 2019). This can limit their ability to implement effective solutions and make progress in addressing environmental justice.
Inadequate funding is also a significant barrier to addressing environmental injustice in Long Island Sound (Rickenbacker et al., 2019). The need for more funding for environmental programs can limit the ability of organizations and communities to carry out the necessary actions to protect and restore the estuary’s health.
Finally, lack of political will is another major barrier to addressing environmental injustice in Long Island Sound. The political landscape can change quickly, and policies and regulations to protect the environment can be weakened or eliminated due to political pressure or lack of political will (Sachs et al., 2020). This can undermine progress in restoring the estuary’s health and addressing environmental justice.
Achievements
The Long Island Sound Study has made significant progress in restoring the estuary’s ecological health. Water quality has improved, habitat restoration projects have been undertaken, and several species’ populations have increased. The study has also increased public awareness about environmental issues and the need for action.
Failures and Setbacks
Failures and setbacks in addressing environmental injustice in Long Island Sound can be attributed to several factors. One of the main challenges is the need for adequate funding and resources for environmental programs (Sachs et al., 2020). This can limit the ability of organizations and communities to carry out the necessary actions to protect and restore the estuary’s health.
Another challenge is resistance to change from various stakeholders, including industries and individuals, who may resist adopting sustainable practices or accepting regulations to protect the environment. This can impede addressing environmental injustice and restoring the estuary’s health.
Additionally, the complexity of environmental issues and the need for cross-boundary collaboration can contribute to setbacks. Long Island Sound is a large estuary that crosses state borders, making it challenging to coordinate and implement comprehensive solutions that address the needs of all stakeholders.
Finally, there have been instances where policies and regulations addressing environmental injustice have been weakened or eliminated due to political pressure or lack of political will. This can undermine the progress made in restoring the health of Long Island Sound and addressing environmental justice.
Recommendations
In conclusion, the Long Island Sound Study has made significant progress in addressing environmental injustice and restoring the ecological health of Long Island Sound. However, challenges still need to be addressed, such as limited resources, inadequate funding, and resistance to change. To address environmental injustice in Long Island Sound, it is essential to continue to support and expand community-based efforts, increase funding and resources for environmental programs, and strengthen cross-boundary collaboration. It is also important to engage stakeholders and decision-makers at all levels and to promote policies and practices that support sustainable development.
References
Judd, L. M., Al-Saadi, J. A., Szykman, J. J., Valin, L. C., Janz, S. J., Kowalewski, M. G., … & Williams, D. (2020). Evaluating Sentinel-5P TROPOMI tropospheric NO 2 column densities with airborne and Pandora spectrometers near New York City and Long Island Sound. Atmospheric measurement techniques, 13(11), 6113-6140.
Rickenbacker, H., Brown, F., & Bilec, M. (2019). Creating environmental consciousness in underserved communities: Implementation and outcomes of community-based environmental justice and air pollution research. Sustainable cities and society, 47, 101473.
Sachs, L., Johnson, L., & Merrill, E. (2020). Environmental injustice: how treaties undermine human rights related to the environment. Sachs, Lisa, Johnson, Lise, Merrill, Ella, Environmental Injustice: How treaties undermine human rights related to the environment (January 18, 2020). La Revue de Juristes de Sciences Po, (18).
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