News & Events

We could take more environmentally just actions if we had the data to see the problems clearly. 

Environmental justice requires that we track how environmental health outcomes differ in Minnesota by race, ethnicity and income.

Earlier this month, Community Members for Environmental Justice (CMEJ) and the Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy (MCEA) sent a letter to the City demanding that no vote on the Upper Harbor Terminal (UHT) Coordinated Plan occur without first completing environmental review. Tuesday, the City of Minneapolis replied with a letter saying it would not proceed with the scheduled February vote and will instead hold a presentation in the form of a status report or a “receive and file” report.

In short, climate change threatens every corner of Minnesota and costs every Minnesotan.

Legal challenges filed by the White Earth Nation, Red Lake Nation, and others are currently pending. Minnesota should stay construction of the Line 3 expansion because the construction would likely be completed before the legal challenges are addressed by the Courts. 

MEPA requires environmental review before approval of proposals that would have a potential for significant environmental impact. Since the pending vote on the coordinated plan would constrain options for the proposed development, an environmental study should be conducted before the vote, not afterward. 

Ensure bedrock environmental laws are correctly applied to the Upper Harbor Terminal and that new developments don't increase the historic and continuing environmental and pollution disparities in the Northside — take action now.

Unlike the lower courts, the Minnesota Supreme Court, which provides discretionary review, simply hasn’t opined much on environmental law in recent years. Until now.

Minnesota is one of the fastest warming U.S. states, and bold action is needed to protect Minnesotans and the natural beauty that defines our state. This is a great challenge, but it is also a great opportunity.