Environmental Justice Issues in Puerto Rico

In the following course, we will explore various aspects of environmental justice issues in Puerto Rico. The island’s extensive history of political controversy, arising from its post-colonial status and its current designation as a U.S. territory, has inherently politicized discussions surrounding environmental preservation.

The Constitution of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico delineates a set of environmental conservation rights. However, owing to the rapid urbanization and industrialization experienced by the island in recent decades, the right to a healthy environment has come under threat. The specific events to be addressed
include the military use of land for toxic experiments in Vieques, pollution of air and water resulting from industrialization and corporate facilities, the unconstitutional privatization of coastal resources for tourism development, and gentrification. Gentrification, driven by tax breaks incentivizing the wealthy to relocate to the island, has resulted in local residents being unable to afford property. Additionally, the course will examine the impact of Hurricane Maria and Hurricane Irma, as these extreme weather events left many low-income communities and communities of color in need without proper support. The objective in
creating this course is to shed light on and raise awareness of environmental injustices in Puerto Rico, accomplished by providing insight into the historical context of these events.