Approved by the Energy, Environment, and Water Policy Committee on July 30, 2026
Approved by the Public Policy and Practice Committee on September 2, 2026
Approved by the Board of Directors on October 16, 2026

Policy

The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) strongly encourages:  

  • Incorporating environmental justice principles in all infrastructure work. 
  • Assessing the environmental impacts of infrastructure investment decisions and, where feasible, advance projects that avoid disproportionate adverse impacts on disadvantaged communities.
  • Developing and utilizing guidance on how to consider environmental impacts on disadvantaged communities during the selection, design, implementation, operation, maintenance, and decommissioning of infrastructure projects. 
  • Allowing meaningful input of potentially impacted communities on infrastructure decisions that may impact them.
  • Treating all groups of people in a manner consistent with ASCE’s Code of Ethics and Policy Statement 417.

Issue

ASCE understands environmental justice is the fair treatment of people of all races, cultures, incomes, and educational levels with respect to the development and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies. Fair treatment implies that no population should be forced to shoulder a disproportionate share of exposure to the negative environmental effects due to lack of political or economic strength. 

Infrastructure projects are conceived and designed to provide benefits to certain communities and people; however, these projects can impose a disproportionate share of negative environmental outcomes on other, typically disadvantaged, communities. Unmitigated or controlled pollution can impact adjacent communities and may include water, air, noise, and light pollution. 

Rationale

The application of environmental justice principles in infrastructure project decision-making can help avoid, minimize, or mitigate negative environmental outcomes on disadvantaged communities near or adjacent to the project. Furthermore, the development of standardized environmental justice guidance will promote consistent consideration of disadvantaged communities and provide civil engineers and other stakeholders with a structured framework for evaluating infrastructure projects and investments in a fair and equitable manner.

ASCE Policy Statement 570 
First Approved in 2023