Current Research Projects

Advancing Environmental Justice and a Just Transition through Academic Research

Evaluation of AB 617 Community Air Protection Program California Air Resource Board

PI: Rachel Morello-Frosch (UC Berkeley), Co-PIs: Manuel Pastor (USC), James Sadd (Occidental College) , J. Mijin Cha (UCSC), and Madison Swayne (San Diego State University)

The objective of this project is to help answer the following overarching questions:

1) How the program [AB 617] has advanced equity;

2) What strengths of the program should be replicated;

3) How shortcomings should be addressed, and

4) How evaluation can be incorporated as a central feature in the CAPP to continuously improve the Program.

Critical Minerals and Metals Just Transition Listening Project Sloan Foundation

PI: J. Mijin Cha, Co-PIs: Dimitris Stevis, Todd Vachon, and Vivian Price

Much attention has been placed on how companies will respond to the growing demand for critical minerals, but less focus has been paid to how this transition will impact workers involved in CMM extraction, component manufacturing, and eventual installation.
This place-based, qualitative research proposal looks to fill this gap by undertaking a Critical Minerals and Metals Just Transition Listening Project (CMM JTLP). This CMM JTLP project will examine different phases of the lithium lifecycle by conducting in-depth interviews with workers and community members in at least four different case study sites

Racial Equity Inventory of the California Air Resources Board

California Air Resources Board

PI: Chris Benner (UCSC), Co-PI: J. Mijin Cha (UCSC), Manuel Pastor (USC)

The RE Inventory will have the following four phases over the next few years (2025-2027): 

Gather data, research, and design a methodology to measure CARB actions on racial equity and environmental justice. 

Implement a pilot with selected CARB division(s); then analyze and refine the methodology. 

Implement and analyze an CARB wide inventory with actionable recommendations. 

Share information and build staff capacity on strategies to embed racial equity and environmental justice.