Climate Justice Initiative

Global climate change has a disproportionate impact on communities of color in the United States and around the world. The NAACP Climate Justice Initiative was created to educate and mobilize communities to address this human and civil rights issue.

               

When folks think about climate change, the first things some people think of are melting ice caps and suffering polar bears. However, many fail to make the connection in terms of the direct impact on our own lives, families, and communities.

Climate Change is about Katrina, Rita, and Ike devastating communities in Mississippi, Louisiana, Florida, and Texas, Climate Change is about our sisters and brothers in the Bahamas who will be losing their homes to rising sea levels in the coming few years. Climate Change is about people in Detroit, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and elsewhere who have died and are dying of exposure to toxins from coal fired power plants.

Climate Change is about sisters and brothers in West Virginia who are breathing toxic ash from blasting for mountain top removal. Climate Change is about our folks in Thibodeaux, Louisiana who are being forced to move within the next 10 years because rising sea levels will result in the submersion of the coastal land that is their home currently.

It's about the fact that race--over class--is the number one indicator for the placement of toxic facilities in this country. Climate change is about the fact that in our communities it is far easier to find a bag of Cheetos than a carton of strawberries.

Climate Change is about us.

Blog Posts

Posted on June 07, 2013 by Camille Grant, NAACP Environmental and Climate Justice Fellow

Advocating for Our Right to Breathe Clean Air

Local doctor's tribal leaders, nurses, clergy, labor leaders, parents and concerned citizens from all 50 states descended onto Washington, DC for the "50 States United for Healthy Air" delegation to speak with elected officials and staff from EPA and the White House to voice their concerns about the quality of our nation's air and its impact on public health.

Posted on June 07, 2013 by Tanea Jackson, Environmental and Climate Justice Communications Fellow

Clean Air: Is it Worth It?

The Gallaudet University Conference Room filled with the 117 people from different backgrounds, cultures, communities from across the 50 states and Puerto Rico, which made up the Clean Air Ambassadors who gathered in DC for one cause -- clean air.

Posted on May 29, 2013

Recap: NAACP Leadership 500 Summit

Hundreds gathered at the Waldorf Astoria in Naples FL for the NAACP Leadership 500 Conference

Posted on May 09, 2013

The NAACP Supports the Clean Vehicle Emission Standards

Millions of people are suffering across the country from the exposure to near roadway air pollutions and low income African Americans are suffering even more because we are the main population who live by these roadways.