Climate Change

Climate justice begins with the recognition that the impacts of climate change fall most harshly on poor and marginalized people, the ones least responsible for their creation. In the words of  UN Secretary-General António Guterres, “Climate change is happening now and to all of us. No country or community is immune. And, as is always the case, the poor and vulnerable are the first to suffer and the worst hit.” Source: www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/blog/2019/05/climate-justice/

From the NAACP:  "Environmental injustice, including the proliferation of climate change, has a disproportionate impact on communities of color and low income communities in the United States and around the world....Toxic facilities, like coal fired power plants and incinerators, emit mercury, arsenic, lead, and other contaminants into the water, food, and lungs of communities. Many of these same facilities also emit carbon dioxide and methane – the #1 and #2 drivers of climate change. At the same time not all are equally impacted. For example, race – even more than class – is the number one indicator for the placement of toxic facilities in this country. And communities of color and low income communities are often the hardest hit by climate change." Source:  www.naacp.org/issues/environmental-justice/

Resources:

Virtual climate justice workshop led by the Sylvania Multicultural Center. (16 minutes)