Biden signs executive order establishing White House Office of Environmental Justice

President Biden signs an executive order on Earth Day creating the White House Office of Environmental Justice, the first standalone White House office dedicated to ensuring that all Americans have equal access to clean air, clean water, and healthy environments, regardless of their zip code, income, or race. The order creates the office within the Council on Environmental Quality and establishes a new Presidential Advisory Council on environmental justice. It directs all federal agencies to create Environmental Justice Officer positions and develop plans to incorporate environmental justice into all of their programs. The Biden administration also expands the definition of environmental justice to encompass climate change impacts.