Executive Order 292 directs the Governor’s Environmental Justice Advisory Council to deliver a report by Oct. 15, 2024, to the Governor, Cabinet secretaries and Council of State members that:

  • Identifies and makes recommendations for advancing environmental justice
  • Describes the activities of the Council
  • Identifies EJ policies and programs in state agencies
  • Describes agency implementation of their public participation plans. 

Read the Final Report

Recommendations for Advancing Environmental Justice

The 22-member Environmental Justice Council unanimously approved 14 recommendations based on the work it completed. The full text of the recommendations can be found in the Council’s Final Report.

Highlights of the recommendations include:

  1. Creating an Office of Environmental Justice within the Governor’s Office of Public Engagement.
  2. Collaborating with EJ leaders to ensure the EJ Mapping Tool accurately reflects areas impacted by EJ issues.
  3. Creating a North Carolina-specific EJ index.
  4. Reviewing the EJ Hub and Mapping Tool for accessibility.
  5. Developing a process to review, respond to and implement input received on the EJ Hub.
  6. Recommending cabinet agencies engage with community members around data collection and review.
  7. Developing a cumulative impacts guidance document.
  8. Recommending cabinet agencies review information gaps identified by the EJ Hub & Mapping Subcommittee and within their agency and provide a list of additional data they can supply; develop legislative language that authorizes such data collection and analysis, as needed.
  9. Engaging community leaders and EJ organizations in meeting planning.
  10. Seeking advice from tribal organizations and other relevant entities on the needs and best processes for engaging with these communities.
  11. Documenting and sharing public feedback and responses on public engagement events; evaluating and addressing barriers to engagement.
  12. Requiring EJ training for all state and local government employees.
  13. Cataloging and sharing EJ-relevant state resources to prevent duplication of efforts.
  14. Clarifying the definition of EJ to increase familiarity and ease of use.