Earth Day will turn 51 years old this April 22NS—And I was a witness to every one of them. The environmental activism it promotes and inspires has shaped me as an individual, shaped culture in the United States and beyond, and shaped the planet we all share. And it continues to evolve, as evidenced by today’s focus on environmental justice and the disproportionate health impacts felt by low-income communities and communities of color. As a kid in the 1970s, I saw dramatic changes — environmental policies and discoveries pointed in the right direction, setbacks and disappointments, and demonstrated courage.
As a young man, I was inspired by the boldness of Jacque Cousteau, the brilliance of Jane Goodall and the courage of Norma Rae. As an adult, I look to the power of local change agents like Majora Carter of the South Bronx, NYC and Margie Eugene-Richard of Southern Louisiana. In my life, I’ve seen recycling, the removal of lead from gasoline and paint, asbestos being banned from buildings, and consumer preferences shifting to cleaners that contain alcohol. Plant-based and chemical-free food. I am very excited about the growing international movement for green school grounds. I’ve also witnessed devastating environmental crises in places like Love Channel, NY, Flint, Mich., the Gulf of Mexico, and Prince William Sound. All of this represents both the incredible harm and benefit we can do when we act collectively.
I hope in my lifetime to witness less of the battles between David and Goliath for the environment and environmental injustice. I have hope to share.
A year ago, a national emergency was declared after the pandemic. To limit the spread of COVID-19, the world as we know it has been suspended. In such a short time, it’s hard to notice how nature is reviving in places we wouldn’t have expected before, our roads are getting quieter and our air is cleaner. how. Birds appear everywhere – even in industrial areas. There is a growing need for equitable access to green and open public spaces. Some cities widen bike lanes and ban streets from traffic — all of this and more has helped us see that the way we’ve always been isn’t the way we have to keep doing it . We have proven that we maybe more resourceful, innovative and inclusive in addressing the competitive crises of our time.
While I never expect this pandemic to happen to this or any future generation, there is value in assessing what we can do as we coordinate resources. across borders and cultures in response to a common threat. It makes me wonder about our other existential threats, like climate change. How do we gather together a collective will to take on this challenge and do it with a commitment to equity?
How cities are taking action to address health, equity and climate change
At the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, we know that good ideas know no borders, and I’m glad we’re supporting six projects in US cities as they translate and adapt established approaches. piloted in cities around the world to limit the health impacts of climate change. It shows power we Faced with the challenges of extreme heat, shifting climate and rising sea levels — our communities are the incubators of change. Here’s how some of our sponsors are taking action:
“In Lawrence, Mass., we learned that lack of access to diverse and adequate transportation options, health care, green spaces, healthy food, and social connections — plus with high poverty and environmental concerns — have given way to health inequalities.
That’s why the city partnered with residents, the Law Conservation Foundation, and the Lawrence Groundworks to look abroad — to Brazil, Italy, and beyond — for innovations that create parks and climate corridors in our city. It is our opportunity to address health and climate inequalities while taking advantage of our rich local natural resources and deep partnerships. ”
“Jackson, ma’am, is the capital of the poorest and most unhealthy state in America. It’s also one of the most segregated cities in the nation, where lack of health insurance, obesity, and diabetes are directly linked to residency in the Jackson red-lined areas. These inequalities greatly increase vulnerability to climate change, a fact that is ignored or completely denied by many public officials. On the contrary, we are supporting climate action to address health vulnerabilities by developing heat-reducing green infrastructure in our city. Inspired by innovative solutions developed in Japan and Spain, we are working to make Jackson the greenest, healthiest and most equitable city in the South! ”
“Seattle’s Duwamish Valley is a microcosm of the combined effects of current health disparities and the potential threat of climate change disproportionately affecting Black, Indigenous communities. , people of color and low income. That’s why we’re working with community stakeholders to develop and implement a strategy to mitigate and adapt to sea level rise and other climate change impacts. Prioritize keeping people and businesses in the areas they call home.
Drawing from solutions in Brazil, Puerto Rico and New Zealand, our sea level rise adaptation strategy will be community driven, rooted in racial equity, and will promote health and equity today and in the future. ”
“In Cleveland, we have made tremendous progress in improving water quality and reducing carbon pollution, but we still have a lot of work to do in increasing resilience to climate change, creating green jobs and expanding social and racial justice. To accelerate our goals, we are committed to a fair transition to 100% renewable energy by 2050 and to building a circular economy in Cleveland where solid waste and pollution management is designed designed to improve public health and economic opportunity. Inspired by the circular initiatives in Toronto, we are excited to join other circular cities from Europe, Asia and Latin America. ”
“While the City of Detroit may be a little slow to address climate change, health and equity issues, we have so many amazing people in our neighborhood working to make it happen. Through the Compost for Community Health project, our Detroit composting champions will advocate for policies that create an equitable environment where the benefits of segregation efforts benefit our waste is kept in the community — both in terms of compost produced and jobs created.In partnership with our international partner, Earth Established in the Philippines, we will be able to accelerate the work we need to do here by learning from their incredible example of community-scale composting.”
The changers from these cities are not alone. In response to our funding proposal, Cities Action to Tackle Health, Equity and Climate Change, we learned of promising solutions to air pollution, Heat stress and food insecurity originate in more than 100 cities across 60 countries — from Accra to Athens, Seoul to São Paulo. I hope to see that so many people are focusing racial equality on their work, strengthening the power of communities over the systems and environments in which they live, and prioritizing the needs of those in need. hardest hit by the climate crisis.
We can lead to dramatic change when we put our websites together in common — and we all have a role to play in improving health and equity where we live. We’ll learn a lot from these cities as they build dominating power and resources — both locally and globally — in the fight against climate change. Along with the other communities we are supporting to advance climate and health solutions, we feel that we are on the verge of real and lasting change.
When Rachel Carson Published Silent Spring in 1962, disparaging the unsustainable and environmentally degrading practices of industrial societies, she laid out a road map for change and change makers. We have big challenges ahead, but I’ve seen change and I have hope.
Learn about countless fair and inclusive climate actions We can use today to drive change.
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