Environmental injustice
Home-schooled

I watched the ventilator machine carefully whir beside my cousin’s bed and realized how her health condition was a product of the polluted environment we created. I propped myself by her bedside, carefully readjusting the mask on her mouth, and I continued to examine the blinks and noises of the machine in place that had become her lifeline for air. After a short period outside, her severe asthma flared once more and reminded me that her time with outdoor activities would always be restricted. She lived in an urban area within Philadelphia that was blanketed with the scent and emissions of nearby power plants, which ultimately aided her worsening asthma. As time went on with her in this stagnant state, I knew I could no longer idly ignore the crippling effects of humans on the natural environment. The increasing air pollution threatens the daily life of plants, animals, and human civilization. We should no longer delay the environmental crisis and should readdress it as a priority before it’s too late. The issues of climate change and human activity have been pushed to the side, which has caused the resulting issues that our generation
has to solve.

Those with socioeconomic disadvantages suffer the consequences of our inability to act against the worsening environmental crisis. Social conditions, such as housing and proximity to environmental waste, play a negatively determinant role in the health outcomes of communities in urban areas that suffer more acutely from our activity. These social determinants combine with an individual’s genetics and behaviors to affect their health condition. With poor land-use developments in underfunded neighborhoods, power plants are placed too close for comfort in cities releasing air pollutants, and communities are situated near landfills, ultimately causing these citizens to consistently breathe the toxic fumes released. The constant consumption of this toxic air overall leads to worse health outcomes such as a higher rate of cardiovascular illness. Although this is most profound in different areas within Philadelphia, some similar inequities can be found within our city of Wilmington. This area is much more densely populated and has a higher focus on urban living which makes it ideal for working spaces. However, this causes more fossil fuels to be burned due to the need for transportation through buses and cars, which causes Wilmington to exceed other counties in Delaware with a higher air quality index. It is imperative
to prevent air conditions from worsening in Wilmington and the rest of Delaware with collective intervention to protect the environmental health of the state Different socioeconomic statuses affect how differently citizens are affected by the growing environmental crisis. Urban areas tend to face more issues than others because of their limited ability to change their situation with the amount of power they are given. Corporations play a
major role in contributing to the environmental crisis through their product developments which use raw materials. These raw materials may require different machinery that ultimately releases more emissions. Additionally, the government action has continued to acknowledge yet ignore
the environmental crisis for other pending issues which only brings more suffering to these disadvantaged populations. This is why the youth citizens of Delaware must advocate for collective action to support these communities by reaching out to those in power. Youth in
Delaware must communicate with those in power and persuade them to readdress their initial assessment of the severity of the environmental issues. By confronting our Delaware Senators through campaigns, writing letters, and emails, the youth in Delaware can use a community effort to raise awareness of the ongoing environmental crisis and fight for the development of new policies and alternatives to end the use of fossil fuels. These policies should also be focused on giving alternatives and investing more money into solutions for environmental issues that
everyone can partake in, including big businesses that use the most fossil fuels. Additionally, Delaware youth should also take individual action, such as educating themselves on the current environmental crisis and how it has become a crisis. I took part in the New Castle Youth Planning Board and learned of the costs of poor land-use planning and policies. Other young people in Delaware can also use local opportunities to educate themselves and spread awareness of environmental issues individually. The citizens in Delaware can also collaborate
with each other to support these communities that suffer the consequences of environmental issues with drives and gifting donations. These would be used to support these citizens inside and outside of Delaware with greater community funding and resources. It is imperative that the youth act now and attack the environmental crisis head first. With worsening environmental issues in Delaware, we can no longer take the risk of idly watching our
environment continue to deteriorate and harm the community due to the result of human activity. Whether it is as a community or individually, there is always an action that can be taken to improve the current state of the environment and positively impact the lives of those who cannot
change their situation. It only takes one individual, no matter the age, to create a lasting domino effect.