Environmental Justice and Health in Architecture for Minorities and the Global South

Dear Colleagues,

According to findings from a report by the Center for American Progress, Black Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) communities experience “nature deprivation” at three times the rate of White Americans. The report highlights 74% of communities of color live in nature-deprived areas and Black communities experience the greatest levels of deprivation (Rowland-Shea & Madsen, 2021). “Studies have found that, because they are more likely to live in polluted areas without sufficient tree cover and spaces to get outdoors, people of color and low-income communities are more susceptible to developing immunocompromising illnesses such as asthma—a risk factor for COVID-19” (Rowland-Shea & Madsen, 2021). Furthermore, Beard, S. (2024) et al note “Environmental health research in the US has shown that racial and ethnic minorities and members of low-socioeconomic groups, are disproportionately burdened by harmful environmental exposures, in their homes, workplace, and neighborhood environments that impact their overall health and well-being.” Across the globe, these inequalities have had adverse effects particularly in the global south and poorer world communities. Roberts & Parks (2007) in their book A Climate of Injustice: Global Inequality, North-South Politics, and Climate Policy highlighted how industrialized nations who are mainly responsible for greenhouse gas emissions have perpetrated policies that extremely burden global south nations who contributed least to climate change. Chancel & Pikety (2024) in Climate change and wealth inequality: A literature review and numerical insights provide a synopsis of the correlation between climate change and wealth inequality.

These disparities have contributed to poor environmental conditions which negatively impacted BIPOC and global south communities. These environmental challenges coupled with aging infrastructure, COVID-19 global pandemic, economic, societal, health and educational disparities have negatively impacted BIPOC communities significantly, particularly children, women and the elderly, who are most vulnerable.

Accordingly, this Special Issue aims to address the disproportionate effects of Environmental Impacts on Black Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) and global south communities.

The discussions in this Special Issue will focus on (but are not limited to) the following thematic areas:

• Built environment and design strategies that address improved health outcomes/disparities in neighborhoods;
• Research on improved air quality in BIPOC communities;
• Smart building technologies that address disparities and promote resilience in BIPOC communities;
• Design in a post-pandemic world to reduce risk factor for COVID-19 and pandemics in the built environment;
• Sustainable Smart and Affordable Housing and strategies;
• Community engaged strategies that address educational disparities;
• Indoor and outdoor environmental quality and health;
• Artificial Intelligence and Computing and Design for Environmental Impact Assessment;
• Environmental factors contributing to health disparities and health-focused Urban Planning;
• Exploring how the built environment can reduce the disproportionate impacts of climate change;
• Green and Biophilic spaces;
• The impact of environmental design on air quality;
• Community-Based Participatory Research in Design;
• Bridging the Digital Divide in Design Education;
• Impact of Built Environments on Mental Health; and
• Post-Occupancy Evaluation of Design Interventions.

References

Berberian AG, Gonzalez DJX, Cushing LJ. Racial Disparities in Climate Change-Related Health Effects in the United States. Curr Environ Health Rep. 2022 Sep;9(3):451-464. doi: 10.1007/s40572-022-00360-w. Epub 2022 May 28. PMID: 35633370; PMCID: PMC9363288.

Beard, S., Freeman, K., Velasco, M.L. et al. Racism as a public health issue in environmental health disparities and environmental justice: working toward solutions. Environ Health 23, 8 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12940-024-01052-8.

Roberts, J. T., & Parks, B. C. (2007). A Climate of Injustice: Global Inequality, North-South Politics, and Climate Policy. MIT Press.

Chancel, L., & Pikety, T. (2024). Climate change and wealth inequality: A literature review and numerical insights. World Inequality Lab Working Paper 2024/27. https://wid.world/document/climate-change-and-wealth-inequality-a-literature-review-andnumerical-insights-world-inequality-lab-working-paper-2024-27/.

Rowland-Shea, J., & Madsen, B. (2021). The nature gap: Confronting racial and economic disparities in access to nature in America. Center for American Progress. https://www.americanprogress.org/article/the-nature-gap/.

Prof. Dr. Abimbola Asojo
Guest Editor

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• environment
• health
• Black Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC)
• global south
• well-being