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 >
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I think that as we are the new generation all of the pressure and burden has been out on us to be able to lift the earth off of its knees and to be able to restore the earth to what it was before the industrial revolution.
The older generation has been putting this off forever but we cannot do that, we have to be the ones who are going to make change. I am going to try and decrease my carbon footprint by: trying to ride my bike or try to not use a car whenever possible, trying to use the heat sparingly and by trying to make my parents trade in a car for an electric one.
I agree that the older generations have failed. It's crucial to learn from the past and recommit to sustainability with eyes wide open to the challenges and on the long term prize of a healthier planet.