Hey Friend,

Last week, leaders from Nevada’s Black community took us to church with a compelling conversation about how and why Black Nevadans are disproportionately impacted by climate change. 

We heard from State Sen. Pat Spearman, Clark County Commissioner William McCurdy II (Clark County), Laura Martin (Executive Director at the Progressive Leadership Alliance of Nevada), and Dr. Lawrence Weekly (chief of staff and chief diversity officer at College of Southern Nevada).

Each speaker made it clear that the disproportionate rates of pollution-related disease in Black and brown communities is not a coincidence. 

“I think we see it most in the hidden costs of healthcare, because as we look at dirty air, most of that is concentrated in Black and Brown communities and low-wealth communities,” Sen. Spearman said. “We’re not making the communities healthier [by ignoring climate change], we’re trapping them in a form of systemic racism.”

Commissioner McCurdy provided the example of  urban heat islands, where a lack of tree cover increases the temperature for people living in lower-income communities.

“Our overlooked communities, they lack tree covering and other green infrastructure to essentially counterbalance the effects of strong summer heat,” McCurdy said. “And it's also no coincidence that the same communities which are overlooked…these communities are predominantly Black and Brown communities.” 

PLAN Director Laura Martin explained that climate change is not always seen as an issue impacting communities of color because of how environmental issues are typically framed.

“I think a lot of climate related issues get tied to camping and hunting and having an electric vehicle, but the Black community is really affected by these issues – and communities of color in general,” Martin said. “I  think a perfect example of that is looking at West Las Vegas and there are two interstates that criss-cross it and that is why that area – Ward 5 – has some of the worst asthma rates in the western United States.”

Dr. Weekly said he has seen the conversation evolve over time and increasingly include subject matter experts from impacted communities. 

“Now this seems to be one of the biggest topics of the 21st Century. But this has been a discussion for years,” Dr. Weekly said. “ So for us to be addressing this issue now – now that we know better, let’s do better.”

Don’t have time to watch the full video? Check out a 5 minute supercut below and take another 5 to let the Environmental Protection Agency know how important it is to have strong soot pollution standards HERE.

WATCH: The OIF Supercut 

Do you have a climate story to share? Sign up for our storyteller program to learn about opportunities to use your voice to promote environmental justice! 

In solidarity

P.S. Want to learn more about upcoming legislation impacting transgender and non-binary Nevadans? Tune into the next episode of Out in Front with BBP – Thursday, March 2 from 5 to 6 pm.