Yesterday marked the one-year anniversary of President Biden’s Justice40 Executive Order, which promised a whole-of-government effort to advance environmental justice, including investing 40 percent of the benefits of climate and infrastructure spending in environmental justice communities. You can read the original announcement here, and learn about the administration’s plans to achieve it here.
Peggy Shepard commented on its progress in E&E News, which you can read here if you are a subscriber. And the Equitable and Just National Climate Platform, of which WE ACT is a co-author, released a powerful statement on the progress of this initiative and what still needs to be done to achieve environmental justice for all. You can read the statement here.
Taylor Morton on How Clean Energy Can Benefit NYCHA Residents
In a Grist article on NYCHA’s plan to replace fossil fuel boilers with heat pumps, which would significantly reduce indoor and outdoor air pollution as well as combat climate change, Taylor Morton talked about the benefits from the standpoint of residents, such as greater health and safety. Read the article here.
Supporting WE ACT Considered a Good Return on Investment
How to make the most of your donation? In an article in Quartz, Carbon Switch’s Michael Thomas made the case for supporting small nonprofits working on climate change policies, citing WE ACT as an example and estimating that for every dollar donated to these organizations “roughly one ton of greenhouse gas emissions are abated in the US policy action.” Read the article here.
Understanding the Responsibilities of Our Political Leaders
As part of our 2022 Civic Engagement Political Series, we will conduct a webinar to help you better understand the roles and responsibilities of your political party, from executive board members to elected officials. Join us on Tuesday, February 1 at 7:00 PM EST. RSVP here.
East Harlem Waterfront Update
Join us at 6:30 PM EST on Thursday, February 3 for the New York City Economic Development Corporation’s update on the East Harlem Waterfront revitalization as part of Community Board 11’s Environment, Open Space, & Parks meeting. RSVP here.
February Membership Meeting: Everything But Gas
Mark your calendar for our February Membership Meeting at 10:00 AM EST on Saturday, February 12. We will begin by discussing the upcoming elections for our Membership Planning Committee. This volunteer committee serves a leadership role in our membership and does a lot of the work planning and preparing for our Membership Meetings and other events. We will then discuss all the work we are doing to transition away from natural gas and other fossil fuels – including why this is critical for environmental justice, and how you can get involved! RSVP here.
Safeguard Your Community: Attend the Rat Academy
Rats are a real problem throughout the city, and especially in communities where garbage receptacles and proper trash pickups aren’t as common as they should be. Rats and other rodents aren’t just a nuisance – they’re also a serious public health issue. Fortunately, our friends at the Housing Committee of National Action Network are sponsoring a special virtual training class as part of the New York City Department of Health’s legendary Rat Academy! Come learn about safe and effective methods for rat prevention in your home and community. It’s free and open to everyone (except rats, of course). You can learn more about the Rat Academy here, and sign up for the online session on Monday, January 31 at 4:00 PM EST here.
Dr. Bob Bullard to Speak at Harvard
At 1:00 PM EST on Tuesday, February 1, Dr. Bob Bullard will speak at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health about the need to connect the sustainability, human rights, equity, and justice movements. RSVP here.
Get Your Free N95 Masks to Stop the Spread of COVID-19
Beginning next week, the Biden administration will be distributing 400 million N95 masks via retail chains like CVS and Walgreens, and then via community health centers and food pantries in March. The masks will be free of charge, but there will be a limit of three masks per person, pending availability. More details are expected here.
