Donnel Baird’s Post

"Self-Determined, a New State— in Equality, Equity, and Sustainability— in a vision of Climate Justice, imagine - and take action, Washington, DC." 🌱 Happy #ClimatePoemFriday, changemakers! 🌐 Here's a #climatepoem I wrote to honor #DC. If you clickthrough to where I originally posted linked in the comments, you'll also get Climate Central, Inc.'s customized graphics for Washington, DC. 📣 Here's to the ongoing fight for representational equality, self-determination, and statehood. All power especially to the grassroots climate justice solutionaries fighting these good fights, on behalf of the the hundreds of thousands of Washingtonian neighbors who do not get equal representation in congress. I titled this one after the name the DC statehood campaign currently has set for what should be our 51st state, named to keep the state abbreviation DC and pay homage to Frederick Douglass, the social reformer and abolitionist. 📜 Full poem text: Imagine Washington, Douglass Commonwealth (DC) in a vision of climate justice: it’s a swampy Summer, still — so take some water from the kind neighbor. Stroll in the park. It’ll be hot– no doubt. But in this vision, DC is, as ever, the coolest place to be. A vision in a dream: leading what could be DC is cool and connected, solving for heat equity, the way DC will face Summers with more days in the dangerously hot 95°F+ range, the way it’s already been in heatwaves charged by fossil-fueled climate change. So in this vision, DC is cool and protected: first providing for unhoused folks, outdoor workers, and low-income neighbors, so all can get through and thrive; flipping DC's different heat realities over street-by-street on redlined divides that had warmed mostly communities of color 10-20°F hotter. Here, instead DC is cool and collected, green new dealing with climate problems by multi-solving with underlying-condition-changing solutions for underserved areas first, ensuring A/C, more cooling centers, more pools, more trees, more solar canopies, more splash parks, more clean corridors for all to trek into Rock Creek Park, and for you to swim again in a clean Potomac. DC is cool and interconnected by plentiful clean electricity— fossil-free, renewable, public power reclaimed, for transit-too, also safe, clean, and reliable as the dawn, into revitalized public commons, and land back to the Piscataway and Anicostan stewarding the future, transforming whatever it means to be American: for all Self-Determined, a New State— in Equality, Equity, and Sustainability— in a vision of Climate Justice, imagine - and take action, Washington, DC. —Adam Powers

EGA member, Tonya Allen, President and CEO of the McKnight Foundation, reimagines a new shared future for Minnesota and beyond, by building at the intersection of climate, racial and economic justice. “By prioritizing climate equity throughout everything we do, we can help ensure that folks who have historically been excluded are centered in any solutions and among the first to benefit from the clean energy transition, reducing their energy burdens, improving their health outcomes, and quality of life, and advancing economic mobility.” #ClimateJustice https://lnkd.in/gyq2Y38d

"American history is rife with segregation and exclusion, causing many communities to suffer the consequences: poor air and water quality and a lack of economic options. Those areas find it difficult to mitigate the effects of climate change — like excessive flooding and droughts. Welcome the Justice40 Initiative, part of the Biden Administration’s efforts to advance environmental justice and support climate change solutions for disadvantaged communities. However, community leaders are heading the charge, learning to overcome financial barriers and attract government funding." #justice40 #energytransition

Report: 2023 State of Black America Report: A Climate in Crisis - Our nation’s foremost experts on environmental justice, energy policy, renewable energy, and civil rights examine the past and present impacts of fossil fuel and other pollution on Black, Brown and underserved communities, and illustrate a realistic path forward toward realizing a truly just and equitable clean energy future. https://lnkd.in/egPTapju

Don’t miss the panel discussion on "Climate + Jobs: Advancing Equitable Green Economies" at C2C's policy conference on 3/29! With increased risks from wildfires, sea-level rise, and droughts, California is at the forefront of addressing climate resilience and "just transition" strategies for vulnerable communities. Statewide clean energy policies are creating job opportunities in transportation, building construction, fire mitigation, and other industries as we move towards a clean-energy economy. Panelists include: Eric Shanks, Cypress Mandela, Inc., empowering students for careers in green construction and solar. Glendie Domingo, representing Rising Sun Center for Opportunity, providing training and job pathways for economic equity and climate resilience. Joseph A. Billingsley from Civicorps, transforming lives through environmental management and recycling programs. Shayna Hirshfield-Gold, City of Oakland's sustainability team, driving clean energy programs for equitable climate action. Facilitated by Alli Chagi-Starr, this discussion will explore how to build inclusive pathways to clean economy careers. Register now: https://lnkd.in/eFuYBeA #ClimateAction #GreenEconomy #WorkforceDevelopment #Sustainability

I keep coming back to this great article by Rhiana Gunn-Wright about environmental justice, racisim, empowerment and the Inflation Reduction Act. For anyone interested in a realistic path forward through the climate crisis, this is a MUST READ. "But there are simply not enough environmental justice block grants in the world to prevent Black people from being left behind in an energy and economic transition that does not intentionally consider justice at every turn — not in this country, not with our history, and not with these systems." "The climate movement needs to develop infrastructure and tools to shape policy, beyond electing allies or engaging in legislative fights. Just as important, we must organize ourselves to push back on the idea that racism is a policy choice without costs to anyone but Black, brown, and Indigenous people." #climate #justice #inflationreductionact https://lnkd.in/ewjtskKa

"Millions of people have seen a clear pathway to changing the way we make and use energy, and move off of fossil fuels and to renewables like wind and solar to generate our power. And then to use that clean power to electrify everything else from our buildings to our transportation--even our heavy industry--and if you could do that you would solve 75% of our greenhouse gas emissions problem. You would pave the way for other solutions. So being able to see that path--and to know that people could make a fortune on it--but to watch us fail to move it quickly enough. Not because the technology isn't there. Not because economically it isn't feasible. But because we are habituated culturally and politically to operate one way... it's like that dream where you know you have to run but you are stuck and standing still." - Abbie Dillen, president of Earthjustice I've been digging through specific leaders trying to think about how do we adopt better solutions fast enough, how do we close the investing gap, and this Abigail Dillen one from a couple years ago is great, following the release of the book "All We Can Save", especially as it relates to culture, politics and law. There's a few things that stick out for me: 1) Why aren't we moving fast enough? She believes we're too comfortable. We don't see how this affects us. And that prevents action. 2) About hope. When asked, she says we don't have other options. That it's not even the right word, that she remains steadfast. And this is something I talk a lot about when people ask me how I can be so happy when we are where we are. And I say, because we know what we have to do. So I don't worry about having hope, I just focus on doing the work and helping people. 3) The power of a mentor and making every job a climate job. She talks about a mentor of hers taking a chance and inviting her to a clerkship at Earthjustice. These are two beautiful aspects of the climate community. How generous the people are, and how creative people become when they want "Every job to be a climate job." 4) the illusion of a single policy that fixes everything. She talks about how any policy will need supporting policies at the city and state level (that policy can help inspire federal policy, looking at you Vermont Superfund!). 5) the narrative fallacy that we have to sacrifice to save our home. Yes, we have to change, but there is so much we stand to gain. A healthier, more economic, more just world. Thanks for the interview (even if I'm way late) Donna Apidone + CapRadio.

Do my individual efforts matter? - has this question bothered you whenever you have thought of taking a small step towards becoming more climate friendly? Well, the answer is  - ‘not so much’! But individual actions drive collective action and that matters!  No, you don’t have to be an activist, leader or an influential speaker for that. You just have to build more sustainable behaviours in your own day to day life 🌿 . It will  influence the people around you , then people around them and the chain reaction will continue . It will start reflecting in the collective consciousness of your community. And that will matter! For those who like numbers - if only 30% of the humans reduce their personal carbon footprint by 30%, we may be bringing down greenhouse gas emissions by almost 3.5 billion tons CO2 equivalent per year - more than that of the global cement industry by some estimates! Yes, these are just numbers and agree, we cannot change all of humanity. But my take on this is  - If I can influence 30% of the people in my inner circle to reduce their and my personal carbon footprint by 30%, that’s a good start! What is your take?

This clear example of environmental racism exposes blind spots within the modern environmental movement. Sustainability is not just about the environment- social and economic practices can also be unsustainable. Although historically (mostly during the 70’s- called the “green decade”) America made strides in reducing air and water pollution within MOST population areas, areas populated by mostly black and indigenous people bore the brunt of society’s industrial needs while white populations largely ignored the effects. Even in modern times, studies show that opposition to polluting industry decreases when the neighborhood to be affected is majority black. Any effort to alleviate harm to the environment must include similar efforts to promote racial justice within this space. Until we promote sustainability for all, we cannot expect all to promote sustainability.