Earth In Crisis: Five Pillars Of Recovery
Clean Energy, Climate Justice, Zero-Carbon, Green Communities, Healthy Democracy All Cited As Critical
By Tracey MacDermott
For the GPHN
In June, The Climate Reality Project (CRP) held its first in person training in Las Vegas since the COVID-19 outbreak began. The conference focused on the Southwest United States, which is undergoing historic heatwaves, wildfires and drought.
While new climate leaders were dissecting the details of the crisis (and potential solutions), the U.S. Supreme Court was getting ready to issue its decision to limit the Environmental Protection Agency’s ability to regulate carbon emissions.
The June conference focused on five pillars: A Just Transition to Clean Energy; Zero-Carbon Transportation; Climate Justice and Healthy Communities; Green Communities, and; A Fair, Representative Democracy.
During the conference I was honored to lead the discussion centering on a just transition to clean energy with an all-woman panel of experts. It is rare to see an energy panel led by only women. I was thrilled to share the stage with such a dynamic group.
As listed on its webpage (climaterealityproject.org), the Climate Reality Project has one main focus — to achieve a just, green recovery for all Americans.
Low-income families and communities of color are disproportionately affected by air pollution, dirty water, and are more likely to be living next to power plants. A just transition will focus on clean air, reduction of threats from toxic pollution, access to healthy food and a prosperous clean energy economy. To achieve that we all need to push for 100 percent clean, renewable electricity by 2035 for the whole country — including adversely affected communities. This will also lead to good paying jobs.
As to the second pillar — Zero-Carbon Transportation — our transportation sector emits the most greenhouse gases of any sector in the U.S. Pollutants from this industry causes asthma and other ailments. This sector also impacts low-income and communities of color, continuing to contribute to ongoing systemic racism.
The Trump administration worked to weaken vehicle emissions and fuel economy standards while Americans were dealing with rising gas prices — which are currently at an all-time high. The lowering of fuel economy standards only further widened the gap of those in our communities and hurts those who can least afford these changes the most.
Here at home, RTD will be offering a free fare August hoping to help lower ground level ozone in our city. Hopefully, citizens are mapping out ways to get to work, run errands and get to their favorite places this month. We can help our dirty air one bus ride at a time.
Everyone in our city deserves to live in a healthy community. Our children should not be predestined to live with asthma and higher risks of cancer because we can’t clean up our energy sector. CRP’s Climate justice and Healthy Communities focus is to ensure that we demand more from the Clean Air Act and Clean Water Act, instead of chipping away at it as the last administration did.
Addressing the Fourth Pillar — Green Communities — CRP specifies that we need smart and flexible financing to accelerate renewables. This is where Green banks come in, using public funding to invest in decarbonation, jobs and to promote economic growth.
Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grants (EECBG), provide direct investment at local levels to assist in energy efficiency and renewable projects. This has led to the creation of over 62,000 jobs and about $5.2 billion in lifetime savings on energy bills. In addition, improving residential energy efficiency in both new and existing dwellings helps lower utility bills.
The Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) is designed to help low-income families by providing local granting opportunities. Lowering energy bills for low income families allows those dollars to be used for other expenses .
The last pillar — A Fair Representative Democracy — is critical. Voting rights must be protected. CRP supports the For the People Act of 2021, to expand and protect voting rights, end gerrymandering, get dark money out of politics, strengthen ethical standards for our leaders, and create a democracy that values the voices of every American.
It is hard to believe that this is not already in place. A just and healthy society must be a society in which all members have access to the polls and access to representation.
We can’t delay on climate any further. We can no longer accept that the burden of those who have done the least to create our climate emergency, live with the direst of its consequences.
Tracey MacDermott is an at-large member of the board of Greater Park Hill Community, Inc., and immediate past chair. She was trained as a Climate Reality Leader in 2017, and is currently the Statewide Co-Chair of the Climate Reality Project for the 100% Committed Campaign. Contact her at traceymacdermott@gmail.com.