Liz S

In its first week, the new administration has taken many steps to roll back climate progress. One I want to draw extra attention to is the repeal of an environmental justice Executive Order I was proud to champion in the Clinton-Gore White House. The video below shows a day's worth of harmful particulate pollution flowing into a part of America known as "Cancer Alley." 66.9% of residents of Cancer Alley are Black. The poverty rate is nearly 50% higher in Cancer Alley than in the country as a whole. It is one of the most heavily polluted areas in the United States and the town of Reserve, Louisiana has the highest cancer risk in the U.S., at 50 times the national average. Decades of discriminatory practices have turned low-income communities and communities of color across the country into dumping grounds for pollution. Environmental justice isn't part of some imaginary "woke agenda." The Executive Order that was repealed last week focused on ending discrimination, not perpetuating it. This is a disappointing setback for those who seek to put an end to this longstanding injustice. But environmental justice advocates are among the most active and effective voices in the global grassroots movement for environmental protection and climate action. I look forward to continuing to lock arms with them in our struggle for a cleaner future.