David Foss’ Post

📢 Are you an environmental justice advocate who is passionate about fighting for the rights and well-being of low-income and minority communities in #Connecticut? 💪 Do you want to celebrate and showcase the achievements and best practices of your work and impact? 🎉 Do you want to connect and collaborate with other environmental justice advocates and allies who share your mission and vision? 🌎 If you answered yes to any of these questions, then you should join us for the Connecticut Equity and Environmental Justice Advisory Council (#CEEJAC) meeting on Monday, December 11, 2023, from 6:00-8:00 PM. 🗓️ You will have the chance to share your stories, successes, and challenges with the CEEJAC members, state agencies, and officials, and influence their decisions and actions on environmental justice and equity issues. 🗣️ You will also have the opportunity to network and partner with other environmental justice advocates and allies who are working on similar causes and projects. 🙌 Don’t miss this opportunity to amplify your voice and impact, and to make a difference for the communities you serve. Register now for the CEEJAC meeting using this link: https://lnkd.in/eQRNipm2 🔗 #EJ #EnvironmentalJustice #CEEJAC #CT #ClimateChange #Pollution #Equity

Think globally, act locally.

Check out this article on our work! #epa #environmentaljustice

Environmental justice can only work through community empowerment of right skills and tools.

When CBOs can both design and lead climate solutions and governments can make sure they have the funds to do so...that's the future I want to live in.

Canada, the United States and Mexico issued a joint statement at the close of another successful gathering of North America’s environment officials during the 31st annual meeting of the Commission for Environmental Cooperation Council Session. We participated in constructive discussions on the importance of achieving #EnvironmentalJustice, and recognize this requires a collaborative effort across all levels of government. To learn more about what Canada is doing: Advancing Environmental Justice: The Council Statement (https://ow.ly/RYix50Srjcz)

I can relate to this. We need equity in funding. Despite being some of the most effective climate justice leaders, indigenous peoples and indigenous-led organisations are some of the most underfunded. This is a justice equity issue which must be corrected. So many of us are undertaking the most important and cutting edge work on a shoe string budget. We need the philanthropists to step up and decolonize and fund us.

New paper out! In PNAS, Manuel Pastor, Michael Mendez, and Rachel Morello-Frosch argue that equity is essential to climate and environmental protection. Using the case of CA, we show how environmental justice advocates have pushed for more substantial and far-reaching policies and how centering equity results in better climate and environmental policy. https://lnkd.in/gV4NkAM7

It is amazing to see environmental justice amplified federally through the first-ever White House Summit on Environmental Justice in Action. To hear personal stories from Indigenous individuals and POC at this stage is a step forward as we work together to create healthier and more just communities. We need administrations like Biden-Harris that continue to instill environmental justice as a pillar of their strategic plans. An administration committed to sustainability and EJ is so important to protect as we enter this election cycle. #ClimateAction #Sustainability https://lnkd.in/ghRQ-RzK

While supportive of the concept, it is normal to be skeptical that federal IRA funding will actually reach poor rural communities like mine. After working through four decades of business community development here, I can not think of a single instance where federal funding intended for small businesses was not rerouted to more affluent areas. Most recently, the federal funding for installation of internet in rural communities is blocked. Before that it was federal Covid recovery funding where local businesses in targeted underserved communities was approved but not delivered. Before that was SBA funding where local governments failed to take action on opportunities. Before that it was federal Sandy recovery funding blocked by state government that targeted rich east coast regions and blocked our poorest west coast counties. Can IRA federal funding open paths in my poor rural community after decades of economic decline due to the actions of elected and unelected government officials? I will believe it when I see it.