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 September 19, 2011 by Jacqui Patterson, NAACP Environmental and Climate Justice Program Director

NAACP Joins Global Green USA in “Green Schools Makeover” Competition

The NAACP has partnered with Global Green USA in its "Green School Makeover" competition. Global Green will award one lucky K-12 school a $65,000 cash prize for an innovative green school project.

Posted on July 30, 2011 by Jacqui Patterson, NAACP Climate Justice Initiative Director & Augustine Njamnshi, Pan African Climate Justice Alliance Central Region Coordinator

From the Bronx to Botswana: Making a climate change connection

Today, a new challenge faces communities of color everywhere, and that challenge lies at the intersection of a global environmental, health, and poverty crises. This challenge that we are talking about is climate change, which disproportionately affects communities of color no matter where they are located.

Posted on June 13, 2011 by Eric Wingerter, Director of Web Campaigns and New Media

WATCH: Reverend Theresa Dear Testifies on Air Toxics Rule

Watch the powerful testimony of NAACP Dupage County Illinois Branch President Reverend Theresa Dear on EPA Mercury and Air Toxics Standards

Posted on May 10, 2011 by Jacqui Pattersson, NAACP Climate Justice Director

Nature’s Fury—Chronicling the Devastating Effects of Climate Change in the US South

On my tour of Alabama's tornado ravaged communities, I heard stories of triumph and stories of tragedy, stories of miracles and many stories of resilience.