We Must Address Racial Inequality and Injustice Before We Can Meet the Challenge of Climate Change

The past three months have been very difficult to endure.  First, the coronavirus outbreak, exacerbated by a near-total lack of federal initiative and leadership, hit the nation.  Whether as a metaphor for climate change action, a lesson on the importance of listening to scientists, or just a case study of how to not manage a crisis, the outbreak was—and remains—tragic and sad. 

And now the country is gripped by the frustrated convulsions of protest in the wake of yet another instance of police brutality.  Many Americans have taken to the streets in opposition to racist violence to demand—finally, at long last—equality and justice for historically-marginalized communities.  Once again, federal leadership is, at best, lacking, oscillating between unhelpful and inflammatory.

To an organization like EESI, which is primarily focused on Congressional education and policies that put us “on a cleaner, more secure and sustainable energy path,” the ties between inequality, injustice, and our ability to address climate change are obvious. In order to achieve an equitable and just transition to a decarbonized, clean energy economy, we need to ensure that marginalized voices are represented in the steps we take to build a sustainable future.  The costs of addressing climate change are too great to be borne unfairly by the disadvantaged or marginalized.  And the benefits of a cleaner environment, opportunities for economic prosperity, and resilient communities are too great to only accrue to the well-off or a single demographic group. 

The best way to approach climate change is together, not divided.  That is why our board of directors announced that addressing climate change is a moral imperative in 1988 and, more recently, unanimously adopted a resolution committing the organization to the causes of diversity, equity, and inclusion.  It explains our work with utilities that offer on-bill financing programs to alleviate the debilitating energy burden of low-income families in rural areas.  And it pushed us to focus our Congressional briefings on the success stories from resilient coastal communities, including many marginalized neighborhoods that disproportionately suffer from air pollution, unsafe water, and environmental disasters—all made even worse by the coronavirus outbreak.   While we have taken these actions to address the intersections of climate change and equality and justice, we recognize there is always more work to be done.  These issues will continue to be featured prominently in our work, especially as we elevate the voices of marginalized communities. 

I hope we emerge from the coronavirus outbreak better prepared and informed to make science-based decisions and with the will to follow through.  And most of all, after the events of the past several days, I hope we finally have the strength to address inequality and injustice so we can take the steps we need to mitigate, adapt, and become more resilient to climate change together.  The world will be a better, more sustainable place if we do.

 

Author: Daniel Bresette, EESI Executive Director