Sacrifice Zones

Articles/Websites

Grades9, 10, 11, 12, APSocial Studies, Earth and Space Sciences, Health

Scientist Reviewed

Provided by The Climate Reality Project

Open Resource

What it is

This article introduces the concept of sacrifice zones and how it relates to climate change, health, and environmental justice, citing the example of Louisiana's Cancer Alley.
The article highlights the links between pollution, environmental racism, and the impacts of COVID-19.

Teaching tips

Positives

The article provides clear examples of how people of color have been disproportionately impacted by industrialization.
The language of the article is clear, straightforward, and concise.

Additional Prerequisites

Students should have a general understanding of environmental justice before using this resource.
The resource can be printed out for those who do not have access to the Internet.

Differentiation

As a follow-up activity, have students brainstorm community-based initiatives and grassroots solutions to environmental racism and the problems highlighted in the text.
In more advanced classes, have students consider the role a profit-driven economic system with few environmental regulations plays in creating sacrifice zones.
This article can also be used in health classes during lessons about the impacts of air and water pollution and in history classes during lessons about the impacts of racism and its history in the United States.
Related resources include this video on the ties between racial and environmental justice, this article on environmental racism, and this lesson on redlining.

From the scientist review

This is an article discussing environmental injustice and the communities that face the challenges of climate change. The website also relates historical environmental injustice to larger health issues, due to preexisting conditions during COVID-19. This resource is recommended for teaching.

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At a glance

Grades: 9, 10, 11, 12, AP
Subjects: Social Studies, Earth and Space Sciences, Health
Language: English
Location: North America, North America > United States, North America > United States > Louisiana
Provider: The Climate Reality Project
Authors: The Climate Reality Project
Published: November 7, 2022
Last updated: July 16, 2026
: Reviewed by our climate scientists How we review

Standards alignment · D2.Civ.12.9-12 + 6 more

Core

College, Career, and Civic Life (C3) Standards

D2.Civ.12.9-12Analyze how people use and challenge local, state, national, and international laws to address a variety of public issues.
D2.Civ.6.9-12Critique relationships among governments, civil societies, and economic markets.
D2.Geo.10.9-12Evaluate how changes in the environmental and cultural characteristics of a place or region influence spatial patterns of trade and land use.

Wisconsin Climate Education Hub

English Language Arts

R.9-10.1Cite relevant textual evidence that strongly supports analysis of what the text says explicitly/implicitly and make logical inferences; develop questions for further exploration. (RI&RL)
R.9-10.8Delineate and evaluate an argument and specific claims in a text, assessing the validity or fallacy of key statements by examining whether the supporting evidence is relevant and sufficient. (RI)

Social Studies

SS.Econ4.b.hAnalyze the impact economic institutions (such as the Federal Reserve, property rights, legal systems or rule of law, corporations, minimum wage, and regulations) have on our country. Analyze the impact of institutions (e.g., corporations, labor unions, civil service system, government, associations) on wages, benefits, living standards, and a local community's economy. Assess how property rights are defined, protected, enforced, and limited by government (e.g., zoning laws, copyright laws, patents, intellectual property).
SS.Econ4.d.hEvaluate the intended and unintended costs and benefits (i.e., externalities) of government policies to improve market outcomes and standards of living. Analyze the effectiveness of how people, government policies, and economic systems have attempted to address income inequality and working conditions both now and in the past.

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