Robert D. Bullard, a distinguished professor in the department of urban planning and environmental policy at Texas Southern University in Houston, received the 2020 Champions of the Earth Lifetime Achievement award from the United Nations Environment Programme. Dr. Bullard was honored for his commitment and service to environmental justice.
The Lifetime Achievement award recognizes decades of consistent action on behalf of the planet and its inhabitants. Since its inception in 2005, the annual Champions of the Earth honor has brought visibility and validation to some of the world’s most dynamic environmental leaders, from pioneering scientists and captains of industry to heads of state and community activists.
“There is a long arc of justice. If we understand that these struggles are long term, we will reach that North Star: justice, fairness, and equity for all,” Dr. Bullard said. “I am excited about this award and humbled by the fact that environmental and climate justice work is being honored by such an important body as the United Nations. The quest for justice is not a sprint, it’s a marathon relay where we must pass the baton to the next generation of freedom fighters.”
Dr. Bullard is the author or co-author of many books including Dumping in Dixie: Race, Class, and Environmental Quality (Westview Press, 1990) and The Wrong Complexion for Protection: How the Government Response to Disaster Endangers African American Communities (New York University Press, 2012).
Dr. Bullard is a graduate of Alabama A&M University. He earned a master’s degree at Atlanta University and a Ph.D. in sociology from Iowa State University.
Congrats to Dr Bullard!