WE ACT for Environmental Justice
Description
WE ACT for Environmental Justice is a community-based organization fighting for environmental justice in Northern Manhattan, New York City.
It works to build healthy communities by ensuring that people of color and low-income residents take part meaningfully in shaping sound and fair environmental policies and practices. It serves Harlem, Washington Heights and Inwood, and has more than 1,100 members. It focuses on issues such as climate justice, clean air, access to good jobs, public health, pollution and sustainable land use.
It works through citizen empowerment, lobbying, litigation, education and community outreach. Its early campaigns targeted the North River Sewage Treatment Plant and the concentration of bus depots in Northern Manhattan, both of which it linked to poor air quality and high asthma rates. It also runs partnerships on environmental health research and education, including the Community Outreach and Engagement Core and Faith Leaders for Environmental Justice.
The organization was founded in March 1988 as West Harlem Environmental Action. It is headquartered in Harlem and also has a Federal Policy Office in Washington, DC.
Latest news
15 Sep 2026Dozens of Organizations Unite to Defend Against EPA’s Effort to Weaken Truck Pollution Protections
WE ACT for Environmental Justice and Clean Air for the Long Haul, along with GreenLatinos, are leading a mass pushback against the attempt by the U.S (EPA to weaken truck pollution protections
31 Aug 2026
Rewriting the Rules to Pollute
How the Trump Administration & Congressional Republicans Are Rewriting Rules to Make Industry Richer, Harming Environmental Justice Communities the Most
27 Aug 2026Last week, environmental justice advocates alongside health and medical experts joined lawmakers to urgently move forward policies needed to address climate impacts as a public health crisis.
29 Jul 2026- 29 Jul 2026
We are calling on policymakers to provide robust funding for LIHEAP and WAP recognizing the value and effectiveness for millions that rely on them most.
23 Jul 2026
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