All people and communities have the right to live, work and play in a clean and safe environment regardless of their ZIP code.
Environmental Health Coalition (EHC) works for environmental justice in the San Diego/Tijuana region and throughout California. Founded in 1980, EHC has worked to reduce pollution and improve health and well-being for thousands of people in underserved, low-income communities.
What is Environmental Justice?
Environmental Justice is the right of all people and communities to live, work, and play in a clean and safe environment.
San Diego’s low-income communities of color have been deprived of this right for generations. Due to racist policies that prioritized profits over the health and wellness of people of color, our communities are burdened with more pollution than 80-97% of California. This is known as environmental racism.
Our Mission
Environmental Health Coalition is dedicated to achieving environmental and social justice. We believe that justice is accomplished by empowered communities acting together to make social change. We organize and advocate to protect public health and the environment threatened by toxic pollution. EHC supports broad efforts that create a just society and fosters a healthy and sustainable quality of life.
Our Goals
- Reduce greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution
- Create a clean and affordable public mass transportation system
- Increase public investments in environmental justice communities
- Improve children’s health
- Maintain and create healthy communities
- Grow and sustain community power
- Build & support the environmental, social, economic, and racial justice movement
40 Years of Environmental Justice Leadership
1980
EHC is born as the Coalition Against Cancer
1981
Clean Up of Illegal Toxic Waste Dump on Alpha & 38th in Southeastern San Diego
1982
Community Right-to-Know laws adopted in San Diego
1983
EHC launches Household Toxics Project
1984
Thousands killed by release of toxic gas at Union Carbide plant in Bhopal
1985
New Educational Program about Toxics
1986
Prop. 65 Wins, Requires Warnings for Toxics
1986
Permit Denied!
1987
Toxic Free Neighborhoods and Clean Bay Campaigns Begin
1988
Phoenix Research Stops Manufacturing Toxic Gas in La Mesa Plant
1989
Exxon Valdez repaired – strict protections secured for SD Bay
1990
Report documents how low income communities of color are at risk
1991
Blueprint for a Clean Bay
1991
School Pesticide Use Reduction Guide
1992
Revoked! Chemical Waste Management’s toxic waste incinerator permit in Tijuana
1992
Chollas Creek Watershed Protection Calendar
1994
EHC Launches SALTA leadership empowerment training
1995
EHC’s Porque Nosotros Chicano Park Murals
1995
First People’s Summit For Toxic Free Neighborhoods
1996
EHC fights Nuclear Aircraft Carriers in San Diego Bay
1996
First SALTA Graduating Class
1997
Ports Stops Methyl Bromide Fumigations
1998
Citizens’ Petition Filed to Clean Up Metales y Sus Derivados in Tijuana Mexico
1999
South Bay National Wildlife Refuge Dedication
2000
Colectivo Chilpancingo Office Opens
2001
Grupo de Jovenes is formed. Alan Jordan EJ Community Champion Award 2020
2001
CEJA Launches – EHC is a founding member
2001
Deadly Powered Published: South Bay Power Plant Needs to Go!
2002
Master Plating Shut Down!
2005
Diesel Trucks Banned on Barrio Logan Streets
2006
National City Amortization Ordinance Passes
2006
EHC Sponsored AB121 Lead in Candy Law Enacted – Requires health-protective standard for the amount of lead in candy
2008
Children’s Right to Lead Safe Housing Ordinance Unanimously Adopted by City of San Diego
2008
Chula Vista Adopts Landmark Climate Change Policies
2009
EHC Leaders Defeat MMC Power Plant in Chula Vista
2009
Metales y Sus Derivados Cleaned Up
2010
Old Town National City Specific Plan Approved
2011
Fishing and Bay Warning Signs Posted
2012
Clean Bay Clean-Up Announcement
2013
South Bay Power Plant Implosion
2013
Chilpancingo’s No Truck Route Established
2013
Safe School Route to Kimball Elementary Old Town National City
2013
Barrio Logan Community Plan Update Adopted by San Diego City Council
2014
Industry-backed repeal of Barrio Logan Community Plan Update approved by voters
2015
Barrio Logan Herb Garden
2015
San Diego Incorporates Equity into Climate Action Plan
2016
Georgette Gomez wins D9 San Diego City Council seat
2017
Salvando El Alamar Campaign Launched
2017
CalEnviroScreen Launched
2017
AB 805 Passes to Reform SANDAG and MTS
2017
Paradise Creek Affordable Housing Apartments Old Town National City
2018
Pepper Park Expansion Approved!
2018
Climate Justice Start Here, Start Now Report Assessment City of San Diego progress on Climate Action Plan released
2019
EHC Leaders Win seats on Barrio Logan Planning Group
2019
Recipes For Respect
2020
EHC’s Leaders Monitoring, Protecting, and Cleaning Up Our Air (AB617)
2020
