Frontline and Fenceline Communities
Provided by: The Climate Reality Project|Published on: November 9, 2022|Last updated: September 26, 2026
Grades: 9, 10, 11, 12, AP
Type: Articles/Websites
Subjects: Science, Social Studies, English Language Arts
Authors: The Climate Reality Project
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Learn about our review process →
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Learn about our review process →
Synopsis
- This article details the communities that are disproportionately impacted by greenhouse gas pollution and climate change: frontline communities, and fenceline communities.
- Students will read about the communities already negatively affected by climate change, those that share borders with polluting industries, and the socially-just solutions to address both.
Teaching Materials
Positives
- This article lays out complex concepts in a way that is easy to understand.
- The included links are great resources for additional learning.
Additional Prerequisites
- Students should have some prior knowledge of systemic and/or environmental racism.
Differentiation
- Connections can be made in social studies classes learning about systemic structures that affect low income communities or people of color and how different communities are impacted by similar issues.
- Health classes can use this article when discussing how climate change impacts the health of humans.
- Consider using this article with others for a more rounded understanding of the issue. Other resources that would complement this one include Environmental Racism, Environmental Justice 101, and "Asthma Alley."
- As an extension, have students research one way to help a frontline or fenceline community and consider if or how they could implement those solutions in their own household, community, or school.
This is an article discussing environmental injustice and the communities that face the challenges of climate change. This is recommended for teaching.
Teaching Tips
Standards
Resource Type and Format
Scientist Reviewed
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Our review process ensures that every resource in our library reflects the current state of climate science.
Learn about our review process →
