CLASS ACT Vulnerable communities, even in the most prosperous nations, will be the first and worst hit by climate change, says WE ACT’s Peggy M Shepard.

Global warming, pollution and the environmental impact of energy production impose a greater burden on low-income and disadvantaged communities.

The message, spelled out in papers in a special issue of the peer-reviewed journal Environmental Justice, includes a call for urgent strategies to prevent inequities.

Papers in the dedicated ‘climate justice’ issue emerged from a US conference on climate justice held last year in New York City, co-hosted by West Harlem Environmental Action (WE ACT) and the Environmental Justice Leadership Forum on Climate Change.

An editorial co-authored by WE ACT’s Peggy M Shepard and Cecil Corbin-Mark notes: “On the path towards a renewed environment, there have been many winners and losers. Our communities have generally been on the losing side.

“As a nation, we cannot embark on climate action legislation and policies anchored by the notion that there will always be winners and losers.”

They add: “Climate researchers report that vulnerable communities, even in the most prosperous nations, will be the first and worst hit.”

The leadership forum is working to “educate and mobilise” to achieve significant reductions in carbon emissions, protect the most burdened and vulnerable communities, reduce co-pollutants that affect public health, target action in pollution hotspots in “over-burdened communities” and to offset higher energy costs to low-income consumers.

Another objective is support for “transitions from a fossil fuel economy ensuring just transition for workers and job training for the new economy.”

The Environmental Justice editorial concludes: “We have the vision, commitment and opportunity to lift all the boats. As the debate deepens, we must mobilise the will to support, develop and implement effective climate and energy policies.

“Let’s promote opportunities for a more sustainable and healthy social, built, and economic environment.”