We are close to wrapping up our fourth day of programming here at COP27, the 2022 United Nations Climate Conference in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt! As you may know, we partnered with Deep South Center for Environmental Justice and the Bullard Center for Environmental and Climate Justice to host the first-ever Climate Justice Pavilion in the Blue Zone, providing a platform for the global climate justice movement and amplifying the voices of those most impacted by the climate crisis, including representatives from the Global South, the U.S. environmental justice movement, and Indigenous peoples.
Some of the highlights of week one include a visit from Al Gore, Former US Vice President, Nobel Laureate, & Chairman of the Climate Reality Project. He spoke with passion about environmental and climate justice, and the importance of the work we do. We also hosted a panel – What’s Next? The Future of Environmental Justice in the United States – with US Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Michael Regan. Both events drew large crowds, as did the visit earlier today from Speaker of the US House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi and her congressional delegation, which included Representative Adriano Espaillat.
Peggy Shepard (right) with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (left)
Al Gore gives a keynote address at the Climate Justice Pavilion
Representative Espaillat (left) with Peggy Shepard (right)
EPA Administrator Michael Regan (far left) speaks during a panel discussion with Dr. Beverly Wright, Dr. Bob Bullard, Peggy Shepard, and Vernice Miller-Travis.
But that’s only half the story. We have had so many amazing panels and discussions with climate justice advocates from around the world – who have passionately shared their stories, insight, and ideas - as well as connections and conversations that took place in-between. We are all facing similar challenges. And the dialog we’ve started this week will pay dividends down the road, as we crowdsource solutions to these common challenges.
That’s the story of week one. Week two starts tomorrow, with youth panels and a visit from the Director of the Office of Economic Impact and Diversity at the U.S. Department of Energy Shalanda Baker.
You can learn more about the pavilion, see our programming schedule, and watch via livestream here. And we will soon get everything up on YouTube, to make it easier for those back home to share this incredible experience!
This week, U.S. Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry announced a plan, the Energy Transition Accelerator, that will use funds raised by selling carbon credits to polluters in an effort to fund renewable energy projects in developing countries. In response, we issued a statement from COP27 opposing this harmful proposal. Enriching polluters around the world at the expense of vulnerable communities is no way to fund renewable energy.
Peggy Shepard will give a lightening talk at the first-ever Obama Foundation Democracy Forum on November 17, in partnership with Columbia University and the University of Chicago. At a time when democracy is under threat around the world, the Forum will bring attention to the biggest challenges democratic institutions face today and showcase democracy in action around the world.
Clean Water, Clean Air, Green Jobs, Bond Act Approved by Voters!
The Clean Water, Clean Air, Green Jobs Bond Act was approved by New York voters in this week's election and will soon be enacted! This bond act will direct $4.2 billion to create cleaner air, cleaner water, reduce extreme heat, and create 100,000+ local green jobs. And it will direct at least 35% of those funds, over $1 billion, to environmental justice communities in the state, including Northern Manhattan. This win is a huge step forward for environmental justice in New York!
Bond Act Passed: Sonal Jessel was quoted in this Bloomberg article on the historical importance for environmental justice communities from billions in funding with the approval of the Clean Water, Clean Air, Green Jobs Bond Act.
Implementing the Inflation Reduction Act: Dana Johnson was quoted in this article from The Guardian about the challenges with implementing the Inflation Reduction Act and the need to prioritize environmental justice communities as the Biden administration races to enact the bill's huge funding opportunities.
WE ACT's Co-Founder Spotlight: Vernice Miller-Travis, WE ACT's co-founder and a lifelong champion for environmental justice, was featured in spotlight story on her life and work in Amsterdam News.
Membership Meeting: December 3rd
Save the date for our end of the year membership meeting on December 3rd at 10 am. This meeting will be in-person at Most Worship Prince Hall Grand Lodge at 454 West 155th Street. Stay tuned for more details to come!
Join the WE ACT Team!
As you may have noticed, the WE ACT team has been growing and we need your help to continue this growth! We are looking to hire the following positions:
In our New York City office:
Director of Environmental Health
Chief of Staff
Energy Justice Policy Specialist
Bilingual Community Organizer
In our Washington, DC office
National Coalition Director
National Coalition Manager Federal Regulatory Affairs Manager (Attorney)
Policy Director, Clean Air & Water (Attorney)
Senior Communications Manager
Visit weact.org/careers to download the job descriptions and apply for any of these positions. Join our team!
