Transcript:
The climate warms around the world as people burn fossil fuels. But the impact of climate change is more harmful to some communities than other communities.
Brad: “The climate justice movement is … addressing the needs of frontline communities and now feeling the impact of climate change now.”
Robert Bullard is director of the Brad Center for Environmental and Climate Justice at Houston Southern University.
He said the community’s vulnerability to climate change often stems from history.
For example, in many cities, racist housing practices are called red lines, creating communities with lower investment levels for generations.
So, these communities today may have fewer trees and outdated stormwater systems – making residents more vulnerable to extreme heat and flooding.
Low-income communities are more likely to be located near polluted factories and power plants.
Brad: “Zoneing and planning enable industrial facilities to be positioned at the top of the community, next to the community, and create these environmental sacrifice areas.”
So he said climate justice is about taking steps to fix these harms – so no community suffers – and all have opportunities to thrive.
Report Credit: Sarah Kennedy/Chavobart Digital Media
