In 2007, Congress passed the Green Jobs Act, the first-ever federal investment in training low-income and disadvantaged Americans for career opportunities in emerging green industries.

The Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies (Joint Center) has long been a leading authority on trends related to the opinions and voting preferences of the nation’s black electorate.  Two years ago, when the Joint Center launched its Commission to Engage African Americans on Climate Change, we undertook a major poll of African Americans’ opinions on the issue of climate change, in which we found that more than half of black voters believe it to be a serious problem that the nation must address.  Last year, our second comprehensive survey of African Americans on  climate change issues produced further evidence that a strong majority of African American voters want government action on climate change, and revealed additional details about what they are willing to do as individuals to help mitigate the problem.

In this report, we present the findings of surveys we conducted in four key states—Arkansas, Indiana, Missouri and South Carolina—with a focus on determining how African American views on climate change and other issues might affect the outcomes of the mid-term national elections this November.  While it is always difficult to predict election outcomes, the information from these surveys will no doubt contribute to the body of knowledge that political and policy analysts will use to understand how the climate change issue is viewed by a key electoral constituency, particularly at a time of tremendous economic upheaval in the nation. 
 

WASHINGTON – The Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies, the leading research and public policy institution focusing on issues of concern to African Americans and other people of color, has been granted Civil Society Observer Status for the UN Climate Change Conference (COP15) that will convene next week in Copenhagen, Denmark.

The Joint Center delegation to the conference will include six members of its Commission to Engage African Americans on Climate Change and three staff members, and will be led by Carolyn L. Green, Managing Partner, EnerGreen Capital Management, LLC based in Philadelphia. Other Commission members on the delegation are Dr. Robert D. Bullard, Clark Atlanta University; Leslie G. Fields, Esq., Sierra Club; Dr. Julianne Malveaux, Bennett College for Women; Frank M. Stewart, American Association of Blacks in Energy; and Dr. Beverly Wright, Dillard University.

Through its Commission, the Joint Center seeks to ensure that the concerns of minority communities are represented in the debate over climate change mitigation initiatives. The Commission’s goals are centered on reducing fossil fuel use and greenhouse gas emissions and shifting toward a clean energy economy, while minimizing adverse economic impacts of new regulations on vulnerable communities.

“We are hopeful that our participation in this important conference will lead to a wider understanding that a majority of African Americans want to see climate change addressed and reversed,” said Ralph B. Everett, President and CEO of the Joint Center. “At the same time, it is vital that our international partners also recognize the concerns among minority populations everywhere regarding how this is going to be done. We need to ensure there are diverse voices at all forums where decisions are made so that the benefits of transitioning to a clean energy economy are broadly shared and appreciated.”

It is expected that the agreements reached in Copenhagen, where the Obama Administration will have its first opportunity to assert U.S. leadership on global climate issues, will substantially affect the direction of the climate change legislation under consideration by the U.S. Congress.

“The re-emergence of American leadership on climate change in Copenhagen will be an excellent opportunity to elevate the concerns of African Americans in the global warming debate as we draw closer to Congressional action,” said Green. “As a respected body holding close relationships with members of Congress and Administration officials, the Joint Center’s Climate Change Commission is uniquely positioned to do this, and we plan to advance our key policy principles with respect to climate change and communities of color.”

The Joint Center delegation expects to produce a series of written products, to include contemporaneous media communications and a final status report with respect to the Copenhagen conference, to inform the Commission’s ongoing policy and outreach work.

COPENHAGEN - The climate change issue offers an enormous opportunity for addressing a broad range of social issues of critical concern to minority communities across the world, according to members of the U.S.-based Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies’ Commission to Engage African Americans on Climate Change who are attending the United Nations’ climate talks here.

At a press conference held at the Copenhagen summit, Commission delegates said that the process of transforming the global energy economy holds enormous potential for making progress on issues of economic opportunity, health and housing in many countries.

“Climate change is the civil rights issue of the 21st century,” said Dr. Julianne Malveaux, President of Bennett College for Women and a nationally recognized economist, writer and syndicated columnist in the U.S. “Climate change hits minority communities the hardest, but at the same time we must ensure that policies aimed at reversing climate change bring opportunities and not further misery to our communities.”

Advocating for both social justice and economic sustainability, Frank M. Stewart, President and COO of the American Association of Blacks in Energy and former assistant secretary of the U.S. Department of Energy, urged that communities of color be put in the forefront of the climate change debate.

Economic development and clean energy, said Mr. Stewart, can be the centerpiece of a new strategy for engaging minority communities on pathways to progress. “Across the entire country,” he said, “more young people see green jobs as an important career opportunity. Once interested in law or medicine, they are now moving towards energy.”

The Joint Center formed the Commission of diverse and distinguished scientists, lawmakers, academics, faith, nonprofit, business, labor and advocacy leaders to ensure that the concerns of minority communities are represented as efforts are made to reduce fossil fuel use, lower greenhouse gas emissions and shift toward a clean energy economy.

The Commission believes responsible and equitable climate change legislation should achieve the following goals:

1. Reduce emissions to avoid dangerous climate change and as a result improve overall air quality and public health;
2. Shift America away from an over reliance on fossil fuels to a clean energy economy;
3. Recognize and minimize any economic impacts resulting from regulating dangerous green house gases; and
4. 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 seeks to address the impacts of climate change on the most impacted and disadvantaged communities, promote green jobs and economic opportunity, and ensure protection of low-income households. In addition to Dr. Malveaux and Mr. Stewart, members of the Commission’s delegation to COP15 include Carolyn Green of EnerGreen Capital Management; Dr. Robert D. Bullard, Clark Atlanta University; Leslie G. Fields, Esq., Sierra Club; Dr. Beverly Wright, Dillard University; and Gina E. Wood, Royce Brooks and Lindsay Boroush representing the Joint Center.

To follow the Joint Center at COP15, visit http://jcpes.wordpress.com.

Cynthia G. Marshall
National Dinner Chair
President of AT&T North Carolina

Ralph B. Everett, Esq.
President and Chief Executive Officer

and

The Board of Governors
of the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies

request the pleasure of your company at the
JOINT CENTER 40TH ANNIVERSARY GALA DINNER