STATES TACKLE ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE.

• Author: Johnson, Sharon

Climate change disproportionately affects low-income communities and people of color. In 2021, members of the U.S. Climate Alliance took these steps to combat pollution and ensure a clean environment for all. According to the group's annual report for 2021:

New York launched the $85 million clean transportation grants to reduce air pollution in disadvantaged communities.

Colorado created a new environmental justice department within the state's transportation department, with $234 million set aside to address the public health impact of highway projects on low-income and other disproportionately impacted communities.

Connecticut established an energy efficiency retrofit grant program for affordable housing, awarding grants for weatherization and installation of rooftop solar systems, on-site energy storage, electric vehicle charging stations, heat pumps, and other equipment.

Delaware passed new legislation to support and expand access for community solar energy projects, requiring that a minimum of 15 percent of each project's customers be low-income consumers.

New Mexico established a community solar program that requires that 30 percent of its electricity output go to low-income customers or...