Introduction
Climate change poses an existential and material threat to the vital conditions of communities globally. Despite overwhelming scientific consensus on the urgency of addressing climate change, policy barriers at the federal and state levels impede transformative action. A fundamental principle of climate justice is that marginalized voices, those facing climate precarity, should be uplifted and centered in all decision-making to ensure equitable policies and practices founded on mutual respect and justice. In the absence of comprehensive leadership from higher levels of government, local communities are stepping up to the challenge, recognizing the need for climate action at the grassroots level to empower community resilience and leadership, and preserve the well-being of current and future generations.
The impacts of climate change are vast, with consequences that will affect all human systems globally and create conditions that could potentially displace hundreds of millions by 2050. Between 2030 and 2050, it is estimated that climate change will have contributed to 250,000 additional deaths due to food insecurity, infectious diseases, and extreme heat-related events.
Marginalized communities face disproportionate impacts from climate change; historically, they have been concentrated in environmentally hazardous areas. Indigenous communities are particularly vulnerable to climate change with emerging and existing threats to their livelihood and well-being. Climate-related hazards can contribute to increased water-related illnesses, food system impacts, and land loss, exacerbating current socioeconomic and institutional vulnerabilities.
This collection focuses on taking action for climate justice, which requires acting on the root causes of climate change and aligning priorities and resources to priority populations—it offers context for addressing climate change as a systemic public health crisis. It houses some of our favorite tools, toolkits, resources, datasets, maps, policy briefs, and stories about climate change, climate justice, and intersectional topics.
Address Root Causes of Climate Change
The root causes of climate change are related to human activity regarding energy consumption, land use, and industrial practices. The collective impact of these activities has significantly elevated the concentration of greenhouse gasses in the atmosphere, leading to climate change.
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Emissions: Climate change is fundamentally rooted in human activities that release greenhouse gasses, primarily carbon dioxide and methane, into the atmosphere. The primary contributors include the burning of fossil fuels for energy, deforestation, and industrial processes.
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Tree Canopy: Beyond emissions, human-induced changes in land use and degradation of natural ecosystems contribute to climate change. Deforestation releases stored carbon and diminishes the Earth’s capacity to absorb CO2. Forest loss and damage have contributed to around 10 percent of global warming.
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The REPLANT Act, passed in 2021 by the U.S. Senate, provides funding to the USDA Forest Service to plant and nurture over 1.2 billion trees on National Forest System lands within the next ten years, contributing to forest restoration efforts.
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Developed Land: Urbanization and agricultural expansion contribute to the disruption of ecosystems and biodiversity. Urban cities are estimated to be responsible for 75 percent of global CO2 emissions.
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Respond to Climate Impacts
The United States is facing an escalating climate crisis that requires immediate prioritization and action. Climate change directly threatens human well-being with increased risks of heat-related illnesses, infectious diseases, and disruptions to food and water supplies. Recognizing the interconnectedness of climate change with the well-being of communities and acting accordingly is imperative for fostering sustainable and equitable community development. As climate change continues to grow in severity, it is vital to implement strategic mitigation and adaptation strategies before it is too late.
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Extreme Heat
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Extreme Heat: The World Health Organization reports that globally, extreme temperature events are increasing in frequency, duration, and magnitude due to climate change. Heatwaves can trigger public health emergencies, leading to excess mortality and cascading socioeconomic impacts.
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Extreme heat can lead to various life-threatening health issues, including heat exhaustion and heat stroke.
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Older adults are particularly vulnerable to the effects of extreme heat, with increased risks of heat-related illnesses and mortality.
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[The data presented can help inform…]:
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Assessing At-Risk Older Adult Populations: Identifying and prioritizing older adult populations at higher risk of heat-related illnesses, such as those living alone, with limited mobility, or with chronic medical conditions.
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Enhancing Public Health Response: Strengthening public health systems to provide timely interventions, medical care, and support services during extreme heat events, including heatwave warnings, monitoring health outcomes, establishing cooling centers, distributing heat safety information, conducting outreach to vulnerable populations, and mobilizing resources to address emerging needs.
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Flooding Vulnerability
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Flooding: The risk of flooding will increase as global sea levels continue to rise, which can lead to permanent housing displacement and adverse mental health outcomes.
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Safety and Health of Structures: Floodwater can damage infrastructure and homes, posing risks such as structural collapse and contamination of water sources with harmful bacteria and chemicals, leading to waterborne diseases.
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[The data presented can help inform…]:
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Informing Policies or Efforts to Restrict Development in Flooding-Prone Areas: Policymakers and urban planners taking steps to inform decisions on land use zoning, building codes, and infrastructure investments aimed at reducing the risk of flooding and minimizing the impact on public health and safety.
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Implementing Flood Risk Management Strategies: Collaborating with government agencies, community stakeholders, and experts to develop and implement flood risk management strategies, such as floodplain mapping, stormwater management, and green infrastructure projects, to mitigate the health and economic impacts of flooding events.
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Air quality
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Fires: Wildfires emit harmful pollutants and particulate matter into the air, leading to poor air quality, which can exacerbate respiratory conditions, increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases, and cause respiratory distress. Wildfires can also release large quantities of greenhouse gases and carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.
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Housing Displacement: Wildfires can destroy homes and force communities to evacuate, resulting in housing displacement, homelessness, and temporary shelters, which can have adverse effects on mental health.
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Destruction of Forests: Due to rising temperatures, fire seasons are lasting longer, and wildfires are increasing. Wildfires release pollutants that can be toxic to human health and cause irreversible damage to forest ecosystems.
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[The data presented can help inform…]:
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Assessing Losses Associated with Wildfires: Wildfires cause significant economic, social, and environmental losses. Assessing these losses is essential for understanding the full impact of wildfires on communities, informing disaster response and recovery efforts, and implementing preventive measures to mitigate future risks.
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Identifying Priority Populations
Communities with lower socioeconomic status are disproportionately affected by climate change and are often underserved. To advance climate justice, tailored interventions and strategies for specific priority populations are crucial. Collaborative approaches that center the lived experiences and knowledge of affected communities can support in designing and implementing equitable climate change solutions.
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Engaging People with Lived Experience Toolkit
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People with lived experience of climate precarity are individuals and communities who directly face the impacts of climate change, often in ways that exacerbate existing vulnerabilities and inequalities. Climate precarity intersects with other forms of social and economic marginalization, including race, ethnicity, gender, and class, compounding the challenges faced by these communities.
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Environmental Justice Communities
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Environmental justice communities, also known as frontline or marginalized communities, are groups disproportionately burdened by environmental hazards, pollution, and degradation. These communities often include people of color, indigenous populations, low-income households, and marginalized socioeconomic groups.
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Young and Emerging Adults
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Climate change presents unprecedented challenges for young people, and the youth of this generation are disproportionately burdened with inheriting a changing planet.
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Older Adults
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Older adults and individuals with chronic health conditions are particularly vulnerable to climate-related health risks due to age and pre-existing conditions.
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Co-create our Legacy
We are at a critical moment wherein we will establish our legacy on climate change and justice, and our actions now set us up for the future. The legacies of climate change leave a mark on ecosystems, economies, and communities worldwide. The impacts are unevenly distributed, disproportionately affecting vulnerable communities that often have contributed the least to greenhouse gas emissions. Adaptation strategies focus on building resilience to the already-underway changes, including developing climate-resilient infrastructure and community engagement. These are important components of a holistic approach to address the legacies of climate change and forge a more sustainable, resilient future.
The Just Transition framework provides a comprehensive approach to advancing equitable outcomes in transitioning to a sustainable economy and large-scale systems change. It addresses systemic barriers, prioritizes worker and community well-being, and fosters inclusive economic development. Integrating these approaches ensures equitable and inclusive climate action and promotes resilience, empowerment, and social justice amidst climate challenges.
Combining co-design leading practices with the Just Transition framework offers a robust approach to climate justice. Multi-solving for climate change requires collaboration, partnership, and the inclusion of diverse voices from affected communities in decision-making. Engaging communities throughout planning, implementation, and evaluation ensures culturally relevant interventions rooted in the lived experiences of those most affected by climate change.
Actions to get started
Taking action for climate change involves a systems-wide approach that addresses climate vulnerability and centers on at-risk communities. At the multinational People of Color Environmental Leadership Summit in 1991, the 17 principles of Environmental Justice were established to address the adverse impacts of climate change on marginalized communities. Environmental justice initially focused on industrial, corporate practices that disproportionately burdened minority and low-income communities and populations experiencing adverse health and environmental impacts. Born from this movement, the climate justice movement frames global warming as an ethical and political issue rather than purely environmental or physical. This is done by relating the effects of climate change to concepts of justice, particularly on environmental justice and social justice, and by examining issues such as equality, human rights, collective rights, and the historical responsibilities of climate change.
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Community Engagement: Involve local communities in decision-making related to climate policies. Foster community-driven initiatives and ensure that the voices of all stakeholders, particularly those most affected, are heard and considered.
Examples:
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Climate Action Planning: Develop and implement climate adaptation strategies prioritizing vulnerable communities’ needs. This includes infrastructure development, early warning systems, and community-based resilience programs.
Examples:
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Advance climate action planning activities
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Assess who is at the table and who needs to be brought to the table
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Develop a public health response that integrates climate resilience into healthcare systems to reduce climate-related health risks.
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Green Jobs: Invest in developing green jobs and provide training programs for workers in industries affected by the transition from fossil fuels. Ensure a just transition for workers by offering support and retraining opportunities.
Examples:
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Invest in developing green jobs across various sectors, including renewable energy, energy efficiency, sustainable agriculture, and green infrastructure.
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Implement policies to protect workers’ rights and ensure fair labor standards in emerging green industries, including living wages, benefits, and safe working conditions.
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Engage with labor unions, community organizations, and industry stakeholders to develop inclusive transition plans that prioritize the well-being and economic security of affected workers and communities.
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Environmental Preservation and Remediation: Invest in ecological preservation and remediation efforts to mitigate climate change and support biodiversity. This includes mitigating deforestation to preserve carbon sinks like our forests and preventing environmental degradation.
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Explore buy-back solutions for land posing significant risks for communities.
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Support indigenous land management practices that promote ecosystem health and resilience.
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Invest in sustainable forestry and energy practices to protect biodiversity and mitigate deforestation and energy use.
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Climate change is not going away anytime soon, and the magnitude of its impacts will only grow more severe. Addressing climate change is not just an environmental issue; it’s a matter of public health, economic stability, and global security. By implementing sustainable practices, transitioning to renewable energy sources, and adopting resilient infrastructure, we can mitigate the impacts of climate change and create a more sustainable and equitable world for all. We need to take action now for the well-being of future and present generations.
