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
I believe that we need to have a smaller carbon footprint because I do believe in global warming and the reason that global warming is a thing is because we are using oils and gas and harmful vapors in our environment more than we need and if we keeps using them we won't have any to you any more.
I agree that global warming is necessary to address. I also think the issue of global warming intersects with other issues, such as racism, classism, and sexism. Many different communities are affected in different ways, and those who are richer, whiter, and male-r benefit. For example, I live in Oakland and in the areas where there are more People of Color and people aren't as wealthy, there is a lot more pollution and there is talk of starting a coal terminal there. In other areas of Oakland, where there are more white and wealthy people, there isn't as much pollution. This difference in respect for the climate has negative health effects on people, such as higher cases of asthma in the areas with more pollution. Climate change doesn't affect everybody the same way and therefore needs to be addressed with BIPOC needs at the forefront of consideration.
Yes, I fully agree. We as people need to take care of one an other. That means being more considerate about how our actions affect others. Climate change is a very serious topic, and even if you don't feel you have been personally affected by it, I guarantee many others have.
I agree with this topic, since our resources are becoming more limited at the time, and if we don't change the way we use them we will face a type of die off with our population. But just to clarify, there are more reasons for our carbon footprint being so large than just the use of oils, gas, and harmful vapors. The other reasons are the farming techniques we employ, the products we produce (buy and don't buy), and the resources we use and don't use. Such as how tilling soil causes soil to become uprooted and release carbon that is trapped which leads to increase of carbon output into the atmosphere. Along with how food produced such as meat has a high amount of water and processing put into it which would increase our carbon foot print even more. But still the argument is valid and one that most people should pay attention to.
Robynn - I agree, and it's improtant for your messageto go out loud and clear. We don't want everyone on Earth to feel the visceral impacts of climate change before we do something about it. We need empathy in order to confront this challenge for real.
I believe that if we all see that every community receives equitable treatment in environmental rights, our world will be a better place. It is important that all people have the same opportunities, and a healthy environment is necessary to communities to thrive an grow.