About the Study

Overview

As a part of the National Strategy Respecting Environmental Justice and Racism Act the strategy must include a study that includes:

• an examination of the link between race, socio-economic status and environmental risk
• information and statistics relating to the location of environmental hazards

In addition to looking at how race and income relate to environmental risks, the study will also explore:

• who is represented in environmental decision-making
• concerns about fairness in how environmental rules are applied
• current federal programs that may support environmental justice

The study is required to better understand environmental racism and justice. This research is being done before the national strategy is developed. The goal is to provide strong, evidence-based information to support decision-making in an area that’s new for the federal government.

About the study

Environmental justice is a new policy area for the federal government. This means there is a lot to understand as this issue is examined federally for the first time.

To make the study more useful and accessible, it will be divided into a series of smaller papers. These papers will include detailed technical information for those interested in specific topics or methods.

We will also provide a summary document that outlines the study’s process and findings.

It will be written in plain language to make the information easy to understand. This will support broader public engagement, including those without a technical background.

Who is leading the study

The study is being completed by Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC). This approach was selected due to concerns raised by stakeholders about the risks of outsourcing the analysis. Some benefits of this approach are that it:

• allows for increased transparency via public engagement
• reduces potential privacy risks within data
• reduces the risk of challenges with intellectual property rights over resulting materials

Transparency

ECCC anticipates sharing study materials with the public. This will include more technical documents (e.g., around methodologies) to provide transparency and to support ongoing discussions. Making study materials available to the public reflects the principle of environmental justice, including access to information.

Study materials will be shared once ready and organized to support public discussion. These materials are being prepared to align with and support the creation of Canada’s national strategy on environmental justice and racism.

What the Study Will Do

The study will provide nation-wide statistics and data that allow for a better understanding of environmental justice across Canada. The study will not examine specific scenarios or instances of environmental racism or injustice. These elements need a level of detail and community input that will not be possible at a national level.

The study will not examine health outcomes or impacts. Health-focused research requires a different approach, including:

• understanding how people are exposed to specific contaminants
• considering individual and community health status; and
• studying potential long-term exposures

This type of research is complex and not feasible at a national level within the scope of this study.

Building a Baseline

The study will not label specific communities as having experienced environmental racism or injustice. It is not appropriate for the federal government to make those kinds of judgments. Instead, the study is meant to support policy-makers in developing the national strategy. It can help communities better understand how their local environment compares to others. This understanding can support more informed conversations with decision-makers about their lived experiences.

This is the first study of its kind by the federal government. Its goal isn’t to define environmental racism or justice, but to provide a starting point—a national “baseline” of information.

Supporting Ongoing Discussion

ECCC has designed the study’s framework to align with its core mandates and policy priorities. This approach ensures consistency and relevance throughout the research process. It will also share a transparent methodology to guide how these issues are considered and addressed. By sharing this approach:

• it creates a foundation to repeat the analysis over time and track trends
• it allows communities to compare their experiences with national-level data
• it offers a starting point for ongoing conversations about how to measure and understand these issues in Canada

Get involved

ECCC has developed the framing of the study to ensure consistency with underlying mandates and policy drivers. This helps to maintain a scope of work which is aligned with timing and resources. Discussions have already taken place with interested parties, both within and outside the federal government. These conversations will continue as the work moves forward. In addition, engagement will continue with respect to both broader audiences and with technical experts.

Foundation 3: A National Study of Environmental Justice and Racism

What: Engagement documents are one way governments share information and gather input from the public and interested groups. They help shape new laws, regulations, policies, or programs by inviting feedback early in the process.

This engagement invites discussion on three key topics:

• building knowledge about environmental justice and racism in Canada
• using data to understand where environmental hazards are located
• tracking progress and measuring progress

When: Discussion Paper will be open from September 26, 2025 – December 12, 2025.

Access Here: Foundation 3: A National Study of Environmental Justice and Racism

• Focus Group

What: This study will not be published in academic journals, so it won’t go through a formal peer review. However, ECCC will seek advice from experts with experience in environmental justice analysis. These experts will form a focus group to help guide the study.

By working with this group, the department aims to:

• use existing expertise to strengthen the quality of the study
• make the study process more transparent
• offers experts a way to review the approach and consider future research

What we have learned (so far)

Discussions have taken place with interested parties, both inside and outside the federal government. These conversations are an important part of the process. These insights are helping shape the direction of the work and ensure it responds to real-world concerns.

Challenges and Opportunities

One of the biggest challenges so far has been managing expectations around what the study can cover. The wording of the Act is broad, and during its development, stakeholders raised a wide range of ideas and concerns. The study’s scope needs to be clear and focused to stay on track. This is especially important given the short timelines and the complexity of environmental justice. A well-defined scope will also help make the best use of available resources.

The scope of the study was chosen to reflect the goals outlined in the preamble of the Act. It focuses on:

• measures of people (“communities”) and environmental hazards based on location
• environmental hazards based on nationally consistent pollutant or industrial data

This study is a starting point—not a final answer. It is meant to support ongoing work in environmental justice.

Importantly, the study cannot “prove” whether environmental racism or injustice exists. These issues are rooted in peoples’ lived experiences, not just in data. However, the study can offer structured information to help people better understand and describe those experiences.

Much of what we know about environmental racism comes from other countries or contexts. This study is an opportunity to build a clear, fact-based picture of the situation in Canada.

Frequently asked questions

Will the study address Indigenous-specific concerns?

The study will look at Indigenous outcomes where data is available, to explore links between environmental hazards and Indigeneity.

In the future, ECCC may collaborate with Indigenous nations and organizations on more tailored research. This could involve using Indigenous-led data and approaches. Such efforts would help better reflect Indigenous perspectives and priorities.

What data will the study use?

Balancing data availability and study scope can ensure analysis is both completed and also relevant. Officials are investigating data sources for potential use, and the eventual data resources will be made available. However, data used for the study will need to be federally held and nationally consistent data. This will allow for equitable and meaningful analysis across the country, rather than piecemeal information.

What analytical approaches will the study use to reach its findings?

Analytical tools will need to align with the available data sources and research questions that drive the study. The study will use analysis tools and methods that are easy to understand. This means both how the study is done and what it finds will be clear and accessible to a wide range of people, not just technical experts.