The Environment and Katrina: From Wetlands to Toxics

From the hazardous waste sites that were flooded in the New Orleans area, to the loss of wetlands along the Gulf Coast, to the disproportionate exposure of poor and minority communities to toxic pollution, Hurricane Katrina has given us a harsh reminder of the risks our industrialized world poses to the environment and to our communities' health.

It appears that human activities are in part to blame for the devastation that Katrina wrought.  And now with 20/20 hindsight, we can see more clearly the work that must be done to attain sustainable economies, communities, and environments.  We need to reduce toxic wastes, protect our most vulnerable segments of the population from pollution and harm, and learn to live in harmony with the natural world rather than continue our futile attempts to transform and overcome it.

Across the country we are losing wetlands to development, drainage, and other anthropogenic causes. According to the February 2005 issue of National Geographic, Louisiana's wetlands are being washed away at an alarming rate, equivalent to a football field every 35 minutes.  This loss has severely diminished the services these natural features provide, such as flood control, water filtration, and protection against prolonged drought.  Furthermore, Louisiana state scientists believe that the loss of wetlands along the coast of the state allowed more of Katrina's energy to arrive in the city of New Orleans.  According to the EPA, it has been estimated that for every mile of coastal wetlands that a storm must cross, storm water surges can be reduced by one foot.  This is not the first time we have seen such impacts.  Changes to the Mississippi River ecosystem, including drainage of wetlands and development of flood plains, are considered to be among the principal causes of the floods, loss of life, and the resulting billions of dollars of economic losses that occurred in the Midwest in 1993.

Hurricane Katrina has also illuminated the complicated and compelling problem of environmental justice in our society.  The flooding caused by Katrina unleashed a toxic soup of chemicals into the neighborhoods of thousands of residents in the hurricane zone.  Unfortunately, many of the poor and minority residents of Louisiana's "Cancer Alley" have long been exposed to an excessive share of air and water pollution from the massive oil and gas refining and petrochemical manufacturing complexes in the region. 

Leading companies consider the impacts of their activities on communities and the environment including, wetlands, forests, and other natural features.  They also manage the risks of pollution and spills by working to minimize toxic waste generation and ensuring safe storage of hazardous materials.  Calvert seeks through its social research process to identify companies that have strong  environmental management systems, proven and meaningful community relations programs, strong emergency preparedness, and solid records of compliance.  We also look for evidence that companies understand and manage their land and habitat impacts, that they place value on prevention, and commit to long term sustainability.  For example, Wells Fargo (WFC), a major real estate lender, is in the process of implementing environmental lending standards.  Calvert is asking Wells Fargo to ensure that these standards include protection of natural features such as wetlands.

The long months of rebuilding that have already begun in the hurricane zone provide an opportunity for development that will meet the economic and material needs of society without creating undue hazards.  Close consultation with community leaders and consideration of environmental implications will help ensure that the rebuilt Gulf Coast is truly sustainable.  Of course there is no guarantee against natural hazards occurring, but there is much we can do to minimize the risks and outfall, to maximize our preparedness, and to share responsibility for the quality of our common future.