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Advancing Climate Justice: Transforming the Economy, Public Health & Our Environment
Policy Recommendations Designed to Secure Climate Justice in Communities of Color and Low Income
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On January 29-30, 2009, WE ACT for Environmental Justice held a conference entitled Advancing Climate Justice: Transforming the Economy, Public Health & Our Environment. The conference was held at Fordham University's Lincoln Center Campus and aided by numerous sponsors, including but not limited to: the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Ford Foundation, the Earth Institute at Columbia University, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, the Mitchell Kapor Foundation, the Mertz Gilmore Foundation, and the US Environmental Protection Agency Office of Environmental Justice.
Over 400 community leaders and experts in the fields of environmental justice, public policy, legal advocacy, and various sciences provided their perspectives on the trends and trajectory of climate justice. Participants actively discussed topics related to climate change and its environmental, public health, and economic impacts, particularly on communities of color and low income. These presentations culminated in jointly developed policy recommendations designed to secure climate justice for those communities.
The meeting was comprehensive, with the context expanding beyond local to national and global impact. Clearly defined lines shaping the current political debate between advocates and legislators were drawn, with a particular focus on "cap-and-trade" versus other systems of environmental legislation. The conference was loosely structured around the fields of economics, energy, public health, gender, and the youth. The Policy Recommendations from the conference are now available online. We welcome your feedback. Please direct any comments to WE ACT's General Counsel/Environmental Health Director Dr. Anhthu Hoang, at Anhthu@weact.org. |
