Advance Environmental Justice and Equity
President Biden's Executive Order 14057 on catalyzing American clean energy industries and jobs through Federal sustainability and accompanying Federal Sustainability Plan (collectively referred to as "The Federal Sustainability Plan") outlines an ambitious path to create a more equitable future for America by incorporating environmental justice and equity into Federal sustainability. Federal agencies will consider the goals of the Justice40 Initiative when making decisions related to Federal facilities, fleets, and operations. Agencies will also address actions taken to advance environmental justice within their annual sustainability plans and climate adaptation and resilience plans. Additionally, a Federal environmental justice representative will serve on the newly established Federal Chief Sustainability Council. To incorporate equity, agencies will support Executive Order 13985, Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government, which helps ensure that Government contracting and procurement opportunities are available on an equal basis.
Key Actions
The Federal Chief Sustainability Officer (CSO) Council, chaired by the Federal Chief Sustainability Officer and composed of Chief Sustainability Officers of principal agencies, advises the Director of the Office of Management and Budget and the Chair of the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) on implementation of the President's Federal Sustainability Plan. CEQ will appoint a Federal expert on environmental justice to the Council.
Agencies will incorporate actions taken to advance environmental justice as part of sustainable operations within their annual sustainability plans and climate adaptation and resilience plans.
Agencies will consider incorporating the goals of the Justice40 Initiative into operational planning and decision making regarding Federal facilities, fleets, and operations. Specifically, they will consider how certain Federal investments might be made toward the goal that 40 percent of the overall benefits flow to disadvantaged communities.
We will work together to implement equity, including through Executive Order 13985, Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government, which directs action to ensure that Government contracting and procurement opportunities are available on an equal basis.
Council on Environmental Quality730 Jackson Place N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20503