As a cleaner, more inclusive energy economy grows, it should bring jobs and opportunity to our communities. Clean power for all. Clean power to the people.
Environmental racism is entangled with our industrial past. Zoning ordinances once used to protect people from health hazards, became about creating idyllic communities, protecting property rights, and excluding “undesirables.”
When it comes to climate change and pollution, people of color and low-income neighborhoods are on the front lines.
The least desirable communities were reserved for discarding waste and marginalized people alike. Flint is a reminder that racism is in the air we breathe, flowing freely into our homes and down our streets. We demand government accountability, effective industry regulations, clean energy, and fair housing. When it comes to storms and severe weather, those with the fewest resources have a harder time preparing, escaping, and recovering. Climate resilience strategies—and investments—must address this gap.
In Connecticut there are over 600 potential pollution sources in each of our five major metropolitan towns: Bridgeport, Hartford, New Haven, Stamford and Waterbury. These five towns combined contain:
- 19% of the state’s pollution
- 20% of all potential pollution sources
- 51% of all the state’s population in poverty
- 71% of the state’s minority population
Our environmental justice demands are closely linked to health equity and jobs.