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Communities of Color Are Disproportionately Impacted
by Environmental and Climate Injustice.
Environmental Injustice Metric: Difference in NO2 Concentration Between Whites and Non-Whites
Source: "US people of color still more likely to be exposed to pollution than white people"
The Guardian
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In columns A and B, red identifies locations where NO2 concentrations were higher for nonwhite people than white people; blue indicates the opposite; and white means equality. In column C, red indicates that the absolute difference inNO2 concentration between nonwhites and whites increased over time; blue indicates that difference decreased over time; and white indicates no change.
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Studies have revealed that industries that release both toxic and climate pollution are disproportionately located near communities of color. In other words, communities of color have long been "living on the front lines of both the causes and the effects of climate change" (DSCEJ).
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This circumstance results in a series of consequences, such as rising poverty levels. In Alabama (24.5%) and Mississippi (26.5%), the poverty rate near coal plants is more than twice the national average. In Tennessee, the number of people living below the poverty line near coal plants is 41% higher than would be expected from the national average (Earth Justice).
Climate and environmental injustice refer to people in industrial cities such as Detroit, Kansas City, Memphis, and others who have died or become ill due to "exposure to toxins from coal-fired power plants and other toxic facilities."
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The distinction between climate change and global warning is the different ranges of natural and social changes caused by them on our planet, with "climate change" encompassing global warming. According to NASA, “climate change” includes rising sea levels; shrinking mountain glaciers; accelerating ice melt in Greenland and the Arctic; and shifts in flower/plant blooming times." On the other hand, global warming refers to the rise of global average temperature caused mainly by people burning fossil fuels and putting out heat-trapping gases into the air"
Source: Phys.org
This is an ongoing project and we welcome interested individuals with experience in climate policy to join our project team. Contact information locates under "Contact Us."
The ECC looks forward to hearing from you!
Source: Carbon Brief
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