A virtual town hall in Buffalo zeroed in on the intersection of the COVID-19 pandemic, its economic impact, racial justice, and climate change.
What You Need To Know
- A virtual town hall in Buffalo focused on the intersection of the pandemic and other impacts on racial injustice and climate change
- The town hall focused on the Climate Leadership and Community Protections Act
- Under the bill, 70 percent of electricity must come from renewable sources by the year 2030
- Community leaders say these environmental initiatives are particularly important for people of color
"The disproportionate number of those impacted by COVID 19 in communities of color shines a light on the pre-existing health disparities," said New York State Senator Tim Kennedy.
Panelists conversed during the town hall about the Climate Leadership and Community Protections Act, a bill seeking to protect the planet from greenhouse emissions, invest in marginalized communities, and reach renewable energy targets for New York state.
"Now we have an opportunity with the CLCPA to address the environment factors that are determinants of health in communities of color," Kennedy said.
Under the bill, 70 percent of electricity must come from renewable sources by the year 2030, according to Push Buffalo Executive Director Rahwa Ghirmatzion. Gov. Andrew Cuomo is recommending 100 percent by 2040.
Ghirmatzion says this is particularly important for communities of color.
"In order to address the climate crisis, we must first understand racial and economic injustice that has occurred in this country beginning with stolen land, and this country was built with stolen labor. Those inequities have gotten us to the climate crisis," said Ghirmatzion.
She says factors like industrialization, urbanization, and gentrification has led to disproportionate impacts of air pollution on communities of color.
The climate action council was created to ensure the initiatives of the bill are carried out. Representatives from 22 state agencies sit on this council.
New York Renews is a coalition of more than 200 community groups that advocated for the climate law. As another arm to the council, they are now tasked with ensuring a just and equitable transition for all communities to a renewable energy future.
"The climate action council for me is a conduit," said member Dennis Elsenbeck. "It needs the voices to develop the type of structure that impacts the communities that we all serve and that we have an opportunity that we cannot miss."