Can we solve the climate crisis without confronting global inequities?
A recent study in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA found that white residents in the USA produce more climate pollution than black or hispanic residents, but black and hispanic people are exposed to more air pollution.
And that is just the USA! Think about the global inequities in the "haves" and the "have nots".
And how are we going to lift people out of poverty without making the climate crisis even worse?
If you are a resident in a wealthy country, is it your responsibility to address both problems at once? And what would that look like in terms of national and international policy?
Environmental Justice >
Environmental Justice
Environmental justice means making sure that all people, and organisms, have equal access to a clean and healthy environment. Globally, low-income communities and communities of POC often are faced with higher exposure to pollution, limited access to clean water, and overall more vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. Environmental justice is about understanding the inequalities and impacts and working towards solutions and policies that protect both the planet and the people most affected by environmental harm. One thing I noticed from calculating my family's carbon footprint was that a lot of the emissions came from transportation and home. Although not much can be done about traveling via planes, I think installing solar panels and using public transportation or an electric vehicle can lessen CO2 emissions, ultimately leading to less pollution and a cleaner environment.
Very well said, and I completely agree with your definition of environmental justice. Developing countries are disproportionately impacted by climate change, facing greater impacts from extreme weather and health risks compared to already industrialized countries: the result of inequities deep rooted in systematic racism; POC communities have limited access to resources like you said, which is a right everyone has. However, these countries are the ones trying their utmosts to mitigate their carbon emissions. These nations with minimal contribution to the problem, are prioritizing efforts to develop climate-resilient infrastructure and try turning to renewable energy. However, what can be done, and how can they turn their country to cleaner energy while they are simultaneously trying to lift their people out of poverty?