Dr. Michael Dorsey, Interim Director, Joint Center Energy Environment Program, discusses the White House National Climate Assessment on and the uneven impact climate change has around the world on CCTV America.
Morgan McLeod is the Program Assistant and New Media Strategist at the Joint Center
The White House released its National Climate Assessment this week revealing the development and effects of climate change. As a result of climate change, increased current health threats and the occurrence of new health threats are expected. Some groups are at greater risk due to age, economic resources, and location. As a way of mitigating these risks, the report recommends early systems of detection and an enhanced water infrastructure system.
Other key findings of the article are as follows:
Patrice Garnette, Joint Center Graduate Scholar, The George Washington University Law School
Urban heat islands describe the concentration of heat within urban areas due to hard, impenetrable surfaces with little vegetation. The heat concentrates on the ground surface and in the air making the temperature in some cities 2 to 22 degrees (depending on the population and time of year) warmer than the surrounding suburbs.
Using satellite images in cities across the nation, a recent study found a significantly lower concentration of trees and permeable surfaces in areas with high minority populations. Combined with results of the 2000 Census, the study finds that Blacks are 52% more likely to live in urban heat islands than whites, while Asians and Latinos are 32% and 21% more likely, respectively.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) notes the following effects of urban heat islands:
More information on heat island effects from the EPA can be found here.
Inefficient mitigation of increased energy use can also cause health risks for homes without air conditioning and raise utility bills astronomically for inner-city families. The EPA indicates that planting more trees and vegetation, as well as using more temperature-moderating materials for pavement can help resolve this problem.
Patrice Garnette, Joint Center Graduate Scholar, The George Washington University Law School
In an interview with Between the lines, Interim Director of the Joint Center’s Energy and Environment Program, Dr. Michael Dorsey, discusses the latest IPCC climate change report and the disparate impacts of climate change on low-income communities and communities of color.
The first thing to understand is that those that contribute the least amount of carbon pollution to the atmosphere are regrettably those that are harmed the most from the contributions of that very same carbon pollution to the atmosphere, as well as a host of concomitant co-pollutants. So, African Americans in the U.S., their emissions are about a fifth of those of wealthy, white Americans in the country. Yet when we look at the effects of asthma-associated mortality, we find that African Americans are about a third more likely to die of asthma, particularly asthma that is exacerbated by polluted air that can be exacerbated also as the average mean temperature rises. And this particular problem of the disproportionate impact of carbon pollution and its effects on particular marginalized communities in the U.S. is a problem that faces the world. So, indigenous communities in the Arctic; communities in sub-Saharan Africa, particularly poor communities in sub-Saharan Africa; in South Asia; in the high Andes. Those poor, marginalized communities, they are right now living out and experiencing the deleterious effects of the unfolding climate catastrophe that’s gripping the planet.
Please click here for the full interview.
Morgan McLeod is the Program Assistant and New Media Strategist at the Joint Center
From people of color recovering from Superstorm Sandy to Native Americans from Colorado coping with flooding from historic rainfall, environmental advocates brought the story of how climate change is a pressing health and wealth issue in their communities to the United States Department of Energy (DoE) headquarters this week.
Ann Marie Chishilly, Executive Director of Tribal Environmental Professionals, and Eddie Bautista, Executive Director of the New York City Environmental Justice Alliance, were among eight participants in a climate change session moderated by the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies Energy and Environment Program Director Danielle Deane. The panel was part of the DOE’s Minorities in Energy kickoff and its Hispanic Heritage Month celebration on Tuesday, September 24.
Some of the brightest minds in the areas of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) education, climate change and energy-related economic development attended the event, which was aimed at increasing minority involvement in the energy sector. Secretary of Energy Dr. Ernest Moniz was joined by the nation’s first African American Energy Secretary Hazel O’Leary, Senator Mary Landrieu (D-LA), University of Maryland professor Dr. S. James Gates and other high-profile participants at the opening session.
Climate leaders meet at the DoE’s Minorities in Energy kick-off.
During the climate change panel, EnerGreen Capital Management Founder and Managing Partner Carolyn Green, a member of the Joint Center’s Commission to Engage African Americans on Energy, Climate Change and the Environment, shared the need for minorities to be able to tap into expanding green energy business opportunities not just as employees, but as owners. Entrepreneur Moses Boyd, a Founding Partner with Integrated Solutions Group, agreed, highlighting how business opportunities can unite partners of different political leanings.
Emerald Cities Collaborative Program Manager Veronica Soto said that her organization has been helping people of color in Southern California to work with smaller, minority contractors and enable those contractors to compete successfully for energy efficiency projects. Dr. Manik “Nikki” Roy, Vice President for Strategic Outreach at the Center for Climate and Energy Solutions, also stressed the importance of finding models that deliver both economic and climate change benefits for low income communities.
During the event, Department of Energy officials shared their commitment to identify and work with current minority leaders to mentor mid-career emerging energy leaders as part of the Minorities in Energy initiative. An event at the White House in November will build on this kick-off.
The discussion gave representatives from the DoE and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) an opportunity to hear suggestions for greater impact. Ideas from the discussion included deepening the engagement with communities of color by engaging grassroots organizations, as well as looking for common ground with business-oriented leaders who may be climate change skeptics but might be open to the idea of advancing business goals through technology advancements that cut costs and create jobs while helping the environment.
In Washington, DC, on September 20, the EPA announced its historic proposed rule on limiting carbon emissions from new power plants. Soon after, a Congressional Black Caucus Foundation Annual Legislative Conference panel focused on the topic of environmental justice – and the progress that can be made on that front if the rule is approved.
African Americans are disproportionately impacted by climate change because they are more likely to live near polluting power plants that exacerbate health ailments like asthma. They are also more likely to experience the consequences of extreme weather events that are caused by climate change.
EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy was a surprise guest at the CBC event, the premiere conference on legislative and policy issues impacting the African American community. In fact, it was her first stop after announcing the new power plant rule, and she used the occasion to stress the environmental justice benefits that the rule will have.
“Environmental justice is not a secondary issue; it is a core issue,” McCarthy said.
Joint Center President and CEO Ralph B. Everett meets EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy.
U.S. House Assistant Democratic Leader Rep. Jim Clyburn (D-S.C.) hosted the packed session at the CBC, which featured seven panelists including Danielle Deane, Director of the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies’ Energy and Environment Program. Deane helps to advance the work of the Joint Center’s Commission to Engage African Americans on Energy, Climate Change and the Environment.
Congressman Clyburn echoed the need for the rule to move forward. “I will work closely with the Obama Administration on climate change to improve the health and economic security of African-Americans and to ensure environmental justice for all,” said Clyburn.
“While addressing pollution and climate change will benefit all Americans, it is especially important to African American communities, where impacts such as extreme weather and health problems are most acutely felt, and where there is a pressing need for the new clean energy jobs that action on climate change will help generate,” Clyburn added.
A standing-room-only crowd fills Congressman Clyburn’s environment panel.
Deane shared how environmental justice impacts African Americans and how, by supporting President Obama’s Climate Action Plan and the historic EPA rule, health and wealth disparities could be addressed. She also highlighted emerging policy models for ensuring that minority-owned businesses and others located in communities of color benefit from jobs and business opportunities related to green economy investments.
During the panel, Deane reminded the audience that they can make their voices heard in a wide variety of ways, including through social media: for example, by tweeting using #ActOnClimate.
Danielle Deane joins the environment panel at the 2013 CBC conference.
Dr. Mildred McClain, environmental justice pioneer and director of the Savannah-based Harambee House, reminded leaders of the work that went into getting President Clinton to issue an Environmental Justice Presidential Executive Order in 1994. However, McClain stressed there is much more that needs to be done to ensure everyone – regardless of color – has access to clean air and clean water.
The Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies President and CEO Ralph B. Everett, who co-chairs the Joint Center’s Commission, attended the session and also issued a statement about the proposed rule to limit power plant carbon emissions.
“We commend this decision by the EPA and look forward to further action empowering states to regulate carbon emissions from existing power plants, which are the nation’s biggest contributor to the greenhouse gases that cause climate change,” said Everett.
Critical Issues in Climate Change
The Green Economy and Clean Energy: Implications from the Gulf Oil Spill
-Thursday, June 17, 9:00 a.m., Columbus Room, Union Station-
Oil in the Gulf of Mexico (Photo: Reuters)
Over the past two months, millions of gallons of oil have flowed into the Gulf of Mexico – the most catastrophic oil spill ever. The extent of the damage it has created is still unclear, but a severe impact has already been seen in wildlife populations, polluted shorelines and illnesses experience by local residents and clean-up workers.
In light of this ongoing crisis, the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies chose to focus the first Critical Issues in Climate Change Speaker Series around the oil spill and its implications to the growing green economy and movement toward clean energy.
According to the Joint Center’s official statement on the Gulf oil spill, “Without addressing energy sovereignty in the U.S., our coasts will continue to bear the brunt of our collective addiction to oil.” The move toward clean, renewable energy, and the subsequent development of a green economy, is a key to environmental and economic sustainability and success.
Joining host and Joint Center President and CEO Ralph B. Everett at the inaugural speaker series are:
See the full invitation after the jump.
The Joint Center and the National Latino Coalition on Climate Change will present “Results of Multi-state Opinion Polls of African American and Latino Communities: Views on Energy, Climate Change and the 2010 Midterm Elections,” a Congressional briefing scheduled for Thursday, April 15 at 10 a.m.
Speakers include The Honorable Emanuel Cleaver, II, U.S. House of Representatives (D-MO), Rafael Fantauzzi, NLCCC Chair, President of the National Puerto Rican Coalition, Inc. and Frank M. Stewart, a member of the Joint Center’s Commission to Engage African Americans on Climate Change and COO of the American Association of Blacks in Energy. Veronica Johnson, Meteorologist for NBC4 Washington and a member of the Joint Center’s Commission to Engage African Americans on Climate Change, will moderate.
Other speakers include Georges C. Benjamin, MD, Executive Director, American Public Health Association and Member, Joint Center’s Commission to Engage African Americans on Climate Change; The Honorable Ben Ray Lujan, U.S. House of Representatives (D-NM); David A. Bositis, Ph.D., Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies; Lori Weigel of Public Opinion Strategies (POS); and Lillian Rodriguez-Lopez, NLCCC Co-Chair and President of the Hispanic Federation
Briefing details:
U.S. Capitol Visitor Center
HVC-215 (House side of the Capitol Visitor Center)
E Capitol St NE & 1st St NE
Washington, DC
For more information and to RSVP, contact Lindsay Boroush at lboroush@jointcenter.org or Andrea Delgado at Adelgado@lclaa.org
Dr. David A. Bositis, the Joint Center’s senior political analyst, wrote a guest editorial for The Tennessean that shared findings from the the multi-state poll of African American’s opinion on climate change. The following is the text from the article:
David Bositis
According to a new poll released last week, African-Americans in four key states, Arkansas, Indiana, Missouri and South Carolina, rank climate change as a voting issue that could affect the 2010 U.S. Senate elections in their states.
The poll from the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies takes a look at the priorities and voting patterns of African-Americans. It is the first state-level poll on how this key Obama administration priority fares among African-Americans. Observers say these states, which feature closely watched midterm elections, are crucial to enactment of national global-warming legislation.
Front-page stories have reported that national surveys say global warming, as perceived by the American public, is at the bottom of the list of national priorities. In the Joint Center’s national survey released last fall and recently released state-level surveys, more than half the respondents said they will consider global warming when voting for elected officials; a majority were willing to increase their energy bills to combat climate change.
WASHINGTON, DC – According to a new poll released today, a majority of African Americans in four battleground states – Arkansas, Indiana, Missouri and South Carolina – see climate change as a critical issue that will affect their votes in the November midterm elections.
The poll, “Opinion of African Americans on Climate Change and 2010 Midterm Elections: The Results of a Multi-State Poll,” which included a survey of 500 black voters in each of the four states, was conducted by the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies, a research and public policy institution that focuses on the concerns of African Americans and other people of color.
Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies 