Category: Environmental Justice

The Role of Pro Bono in Land and Environmental Justice in Hawaiʻi

By PBI Intern Catherine Titzer Introduction Although often romanticized as a tropical paradise by the mainland United States, Hawaiʻi faces profound and complex legal challenges, particularly in the areas of land and environmental rights—challenges that many residents, especially Native Hawaiians, struggle to advocate for due to systemic barriers and limited access to legal resources. Pro bono legal work has played an important role in addressing these challenges, empowering Native Hawaiian communities and other residents to navigate legal systems, protect their rights, and advocate for sustainable solutions to land and environmental issues. Pro Bono Regulations in Hawaiʻi Hawaii, like several other

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How 16 Youth Activists Held Montana Accountable for Climate Justice

Vanessa Muñoz, PBI Intern The growing demand for energy to power technology has environmental costs that impact vulnerable individuals and communities. Sixteen young activists in Montana dared to challenge the status quo, calling attention to the environmental impact of unchecked laws. Their passion for preserving the environment, with the support of public interest attorneys, exposed the dangers these policies posed to their future. Their landmark victory in Held v. Montana, 2024 MT 312 (Dec. 18, 2024) proves that even the most overlooked voices have the ability to hold state governments accountable for climate injustice. This PBEye blog builds on our

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Advancing Environmental Justice Through Pro Bono

The coronavirus has laid bare the urgent need for environmental justice and its relevance in combating institutional racism. COVID-19 is disproportionately affecting Black, Indigenous, Latino, and other people of color and low-income communities. The institutional and structural inequalities in this country have put certain communities at a disadvantage to combat this virus.[1]

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