North Star for Vulnerable Communities

• Author: Mustafa Santiago Ali
• Position: Vice President. National Wildlife Federation
• Pages: 29-29

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2021 | 29

Reprinted by permission from The Environmental Forum®, November/December 2021.

Copyright © 2021, Environmental Law Institute®, Washington, D.C. www.eli.org.

Sidebar

SI DE BAR

North Star for Vulnerable Communities

THE effects of the climate

crisis are increasing in se-

verity and becoming more

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and droughts makes clear these un-

natural disasters will continue to

devastate communities and lives in

every region of the world. For com-

munities of color, these impacts will

not only be worse but felt sooner.

It is also true the pollutants and

fossil fuels that have driven this crisis

for decades have disproportionately

sickened communities of color. Yet

too often, legislation targeting these

pollutants and driving toward cli-

mate solutions leaves these people

behind. It is time for 21st century

federal legislation, drafted in part-

nership with and centering on the

needs of Black, Latino, and Indig-

enous communities.

In the United States, the majority

of fossil fuel facilities are located in

communities of color, lower-income

communities, and on Indigenous

lands. 68 percent of Black people

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power plant, and lack of access to

clean water has devastated com-

munities such as Flint. Now, these

neighborhoods, which have for too

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ground zero for climate change-driv-

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We need bold, comprehensive,

north star legislation that charts a

path forward — protecting com-

munities not only from pollutants

that poison them but also creating

solutions that foster new economic

opportunities, build resilience to

climate impacts, and chart a just

transition from a fossil fuel-based

economy.

The National Wildlife Federation,

in partnership with a broad array

of environmental justice and com-

munity organizations and leaders,

recently released a series of policy

recommendations that would ad-

dress these urgent issues.

Our recommendations, includ-

ing bills such as the Environmental

Justice for All Act, lay out possible

paths for a transition to a clean-

energy economy that invests in and

centers on communities of color.

The bill was created in partner-

ship with affected communities and

authorizes increased funding and

regulations to create and support

projects that address environmental

and public health issues.

The bill also includes grants to

increase access to outdoor parks

and recreation for people of color

and funding for medical services that

address health impacts of pollut-

ants. It directs tax revenue from oil

and gas development into impacted

communities.

The bill highlights how the path

forward to a clean energy economy

must not only address centuries of

devastation and inequity but center

people of color in the economic op-

portunities made possible by this

needed shift.

The scope of the crisis facing

Black, Latino, Indigenous, and other

communities of color is too broad

for a single piece of legislation. Rath-

er, the severity of the climate crisis

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approach to environmental justice.

Our policy recommendations also

highlight the need for legislation to

address not only the lack of updated

water infrastructure, but lack of

mass transit, tree shade in urban

communities, and investment in

outdoor opportunities for people of

color.

Legislation of this scope and bold-

ness requires courage from our po-

litical leaders to achieve a bipartisan

approach to a clean, climate- and

equity-focused economy.

On both sides of the aisle, law-

makers understand the economic

reality that the transition to clean

energy will create jobs, economic

opportunity, and investment. There

is bipartisan support for bills that

invest in reclaiming abandoned coal

mines, jobs protecting wildlife, and

expanded outdoor opportunities.

Our planet and our communi-

ties are crying out for action on the

climate crisis. The Biden adminis-

tration, along with policymakers,

has laid out a path that charts out

a future where the solutions to the

climate collapse can build economic

opportunities.

However, it is imperative this

cleaner and safer economy accounts

for the needs of the communities

that have so long been impacted by

pollutants and climate disasters. It is

time for courageous, comprehensive

legislation that addresses environ-

mental racism.

“Legislation of this scope and

boldness requires courage from

our political leaders to achieve a

bipartisan approach to a clean,

climate- and equity-focused

economy”

Mustafa Santiago Ali

Vice President

National Wildlife Federation