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Climate change clearly represents a threat to the environment, but, for millions of people of color in the United States, it is also one more manifestation of how our energy and transportation systems often endanger the health and livelihood of their families, their communities, and their homeland, be it coastal Georgia or rural Kenya. As a result, communities of color in the United States have a unique perspective on how to approach the challenges of climate change.
The Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies (Joint Center) has formed the Commission to Engage African Americans on Climate Change (CEAC) that is composed of diverse and distinguished scientists, lawmakers, academics, faith, non-profit, business, labor and advocacy leaders. It is co-chaired by Ralph B. Everett, Esq., President and CEO of the Joint Center and The Honorable Rodney Ellis, Texas State Senator. The Commission was launched in July 2008 and its mission is to engage the African American community on the issue of climate change, to work with the Joint Center to develop policy recommendations and to help position the African American community to prosper in the new energy economy.
The Commission is seeking to ensure that any program designed to reduce green house gas emissions is created in a manner that is beneficial to communities of color as well as the general population.
Responsible and equitable climate change legislation should achieve the following goals:
- Reduce emissions to avoid dangerous climate change and as a result improve overall air quality and public health;
- Shift America away from an over reliance on fossil fuels to a clean energy economy;
- Recognize and minimize any economic impacts resulting from regulating dangerous green house gases; and
- Ensure that vulnerable communities and ecosystems are not disproportionately impacted by climate change, while fostering international emissions reductions commitments.
To achieve these goals, the Commission recommends the following:
Address the Impacts of Climate Change on Most Impacted and Disadvantaged Communities
The Environmental Protection Agency’s proposed endangerment finding for greenhouse gases, dated April 17, 2009, stated that certain communities face particular risks from climate change:
