A coalition of environmental and civil rights groups have teamed up to create a list of climate actions they want the state legislature to consider in this year’s session. Both the Eugene-Springfield NAACP and Beyond Toxics have joined in on the Oregon Green New Deal campaign.
Pablo Alvarez is the Environmental Justice and Climate Change Coordinator for the campaign. He says the idea is to ensure new policies are equitable and address the needs of communities of color and low-income people.
ALVAREZ: “When legislators create bills they have to have environmental justice lens in every single bill that they take. If they’re gonna create a bridge somewhere, have they consulted with the tribal elders that live near that bridge?”
Alvarez says marginalized groups are most affected by climate change and often lack resources to move away from forest fires or air pollution.
The Green New Deal has seven climate actions including funding for green jobs training, shifting away from fossil fuels, and banning trash incinerators near communities.