This article discusses the issue of brownfields in the United States, which are industrial and commercial properties polluted with hazardous substances. It highlights how these sites are disproportionately located near low-income communities and communities of color. The article introduces the work of Danielle Stevenson, who has developed a nature-based technique using fungi and native plants to break down toxins and restore contaminated land. Stevenson’s research, although in its early stages, has shown promising results in reducing petrochemical pollutants and heavy metals in abandoned industrial sites. The article emphasizes the drawbacks of the traditional method of dealing with tainted soil, which involves digging and carting it off to landfills, and suggests that Stevenson’s bioremediation methods could offer a more cost-effective and sustainable solution. The interview also touches on the broader importance of fungi in ecosystems and Stevenson’s efforts to empower communities, particularly Native people and environmental justice communities, in addressing pollution and participating in the restoration of their own neighborhoods.
| Signal | Change | 10y horizon | Driving force |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bioremediation as a nature-based technique | Remediation methods utilizing fungi | More widespread use of bioremediation | Need for cost-effective and sustainable solutions |
| Concentration of brownfields near low-income communities | Redistribution of brownfields | Redistribution of contaminated sites | Environmental justice and equitable development |
| Heavy rains and flooding due to climate change increase exposure to contaminants | Increased risk and spread of contamination | Implementation of preventive measures | Climate change and environmental protection |
| Shift from conventional “dig and dump” method to bioremediation | Adoption of more sustainable soil remediation practices | Decrease in costs and ecological impact | Environmental and economic sustainability |
| Inclusion of local communities in decision-making for land clean-up | Empowerment and participation of impacted communities | Increased involvement of communities | Environmental justice and community empowerment |