Abstract
For generations, marginalized communities have been impacted by discriminatory land use, zoning, and property valuation policies, from redlining in the 1930s to the siting of undesirable land uses that persists today. Because of these policies, marginalized communities are forced to contend with low property values, substandard infrastructure, and increased health risks. The very same mechanisms that created these injustices, however, may now be key to addressing them. This Article introduces “greenlining” as a land use planning mechanism that seeks to remediate historical housing, siting, and economic disparities while forging a path toward energy and environmental justice. Greenlining, the productive and equitable reimagining of redlining, uses the tripartite structure of sustainability—environment, economy, and equity. Where redlining was a marker for discrimination and injustice, greenlining lies at the crossroads of land use planning and environmentalism, serving the dual purpose of mitigating climate change and prioritizing social justice. Ultimately, greenlining is about investing in marginalized communities that have borne the brunt of regulatory and environmental harms while equitably grappling with the most pressing issue of our time: climate change.
