Living Sustainably: Conservation, sustainability are everyone's best interest Vanessa Gutierrez However, many data sources show how those two groups are the most affected by environmental hazards. Communities of color have higher exposure rates to air pollution. Low-income people also suffer the effects of water contamination in rural areas, indigenous communities, and migrant farmworker communities. People of color are also underrepresented in environmental and sustainability work and conversation. A low percentage of environmental degrees or tenured faculty positions in the field are held by non-white students. And, there is underrepresentation in the leadership at major U.S. environmental organizations. Despite that, people with multicultural identities and experiences do have a role as advocates for the environment, even though they may not define themselves with typical environmental labels.