The Hive Fund for Climate and Gender Justice’s Post

Vote NO on Initiative 2117. I-2117 is a proposal to repeal Washington's Climate Commitment Act, which funds crucial environmental and community programs across our state. At Community Food Co-op, we're deeply concerned about I-2117's impact on overburdened communities in our area: It would cut funding for community-led projects to improve air quality in neighborhoods most affected by pollution, often low-income areas and communities of color. It slashes $26.4 million in grants that help community organizations engage with state agencies to implement the Healthy Environment for All Act. It would eliminate funding for programs that reduce pollution from heavy-duty trucks, which disproportionately affects neighborhoods near industrial areas and highways. It cuts funding to plant more trees in urban communities, worsening the disparity in tree cover between low-income neighborhoods and wealthier areas. These cuts directly conflict with our commitment to building a just and livable world for all members of our community. Environmental justice and equitable access to healthy food and clean air are core to our Co-op's mission. Make your voice heard! Register to vote at votewa.gov. Ballots go out October 18, and the voting deadline is November 5. Together, we can create a healthier, more equitable future for all our neighbors. #VoteNoOn2117 #HealthyCommunityMatters

How does power move? And how can environmental justice communities best navigate these dynamics. For those who care about communities and justice THIS is the question of our time. Learn more about how RiverWise and New Sun Rising are working toward better answers to some of these questions.

Do you have a community project that can spark radical care for our environment? Get support to develop and communicate your plan at an Ignite Environmental Justice Workshop. These are for residents in Allegheny or Beaver County seeking guidance on accessing federal Justice 40 grants to fund their project. The first workshop is on Thursday, May 2 at the Millvale Food + Energy Hub. For more information about the workshops and to register, visit: https://lnkd.in/eCVTd39r RiverWise #justice40 #justice40initiative #environmentaljustice #environmentaljusticeforall #justiceforall #climatejustice #socialjustice #cleanenergy #renewableenergy #cleanair #cleanwater #vibrantcommunities #alleghenycounty #beavercounty #newsunrising #riverwise #equitabledevelopment #greencommunities #sustainability

Last week the Department of Commerce announced the distribution of Climate Commitment Act funds to 26 community-based organizations across Washington State including four right here in Whatcom County: RE Sources, Scholar Fund, Washington Family Engagement, Vamos Outdoors Project. Funding is designed to help encourage local participation of underserved voices in the comprehensive planning process. According to the Department of Commerce, “Beyond the regular planning goals, this grant represents an opportunity for many community-based organizations to share information on climate impacts and environmental justice concerns while educating other community members about comprehensive planning requirements under state law.” Commerce Director, Mike Fong said, “These investments continue our commitment to equity and reversing a ‘government-knows-best’ mindset. They will give more opportunities for more people to contribute valuable insights to the goals and plans that are developed by local governments charged with leading community visioning.” The Climate Commitment Act is a market-based program using cap-and-invest to reduce carbon emissions. Revenue from the program is invested in clean transportation policies, addressing health disparities, and climate-resiliency programs. @resources_protects @vamosoutdoorsproject  @famengage @scholarfundwa . . . #comprehensiveplan #washingtonstate #whatcomcounty #housingforbellingham #vamosoutdoors #resources_protects

The Community Guide to Cumulative Impacts is ready! 📚💪 Co-developed with 8 organizations, including COPAL, it explains cumulative impacts in simple terms, compares policies in six+ states, and offers guidance for organizing to protect overburdened communities. 🌱 #environmentaljustice 📎Guide👉 https://loom.ly/xC17Z48

Environment is everything. When our communities exceed the burden thresholds in areas like climate change, housing, and workforce development, they fall into the Environmental Justice designation. On May 2, New Sun Rising and RiverWise are hosting the first Ignite Environmental Justice Workshop at the Millvale Food + Energy Hub. Nonprofits, municipal leaders, and residents will receive support to develop and communicate a project that could improve the heath, climate resilience, and/or economic opportunity of their community. Register today: https://lnkd.in/eCVTd39r #justice40 #justice40initiative #environmentaljustice #environmentaljusticeforall #justiceforall #climatejustice #socialjustice #cleanenergy #renewableenergy #cleanair #cleanwater #vibrantcommunities #alleghenycounty #beavercounty #newsunrising #riverwise #equitabledevelopment #greencommunities #sustainability

The San Diego Foundation and Environmental Health Coalition have secured a $22 million grant to support climate-resilient projects that will preserve, protect and strengthen San Diego's central historic barrios. Through the grant, the neighborhoods will experience unprecedented investment in green spaces, housing and transportation, community-led food production and distribution, community centers and other climate-resilient and community benefit projects. Learn more about the proposed projects: https://bit.ly/3SoJw5Y #sandiego #climatechange

On this 🌍 #WorldWaterDay, we shine a spotlight on the imperative of community-led water management. 💧 Our report, "The Commons and Public Services: A New Way Forward or an Alternative to Human Rights?", offers a deep dive into how this approach is revitalising communities in their quest to sustainably and equitably manage water resources. The Commons model reimagines our relationship with 🍃 #NaturalResources, advocating for stewardship over exploitation and emphasising 🤝 #Community collaboration. As we confront the challenges of water scarcity, adopting Commons-based solutions becomes ever more critical. We encourage professionals, organisations, and activists within our network to explore this approach. By embracing the principles of the Commons, we can work towards a future where access to #CleanWater is secured for all! 🚰 Read the full report and contribute to the dialogue on achieving #WaterForAll: https://lnkd.in/dYRyAdZA

Top stories today ⚠️ Rivers Trust warns against quick fixes for tackling CSO pollution https://buff.ly/4cLQBWx The Rivers Trust has called for “sensible solutions, not knee jerk reaction fixes” to improve river health after publishing data showing a rise in the number of discharges from combined sewer overflows. Director of advocacy for the organisation, Tessa Wardley, was speaking to Utility Week after the environmental NGO published its map of discharge data for England and Wales, which showed 579,581 spills last year, up from 385,000 in 2022. 💧 ‘No prospect’ of hosepipe bans as England sees wettest period since 1836 https://buff.ly/4cPLGno Water companies across the UK say they are not expecting to impose restrictions on usage this year following the wettest 18 months in almost two centuries. This is despite calls from the head of the Environment Agency for more hosepipe bans to be implemented so consumers can see “the fragility of the system”. Utility Week asked each company if they could commit to avoid a ban this summer. Find out how they answered. ☀️ Government delays planning decision on mega-solar farm for fourth time https://buff.ly/43SM6Fy The government has delayed the planning decision on controversial proposals for the UK’s biggest solar farm for a fourth time. Claire Coutinho has re-set the statutory deadline for determining the development consent order (DCO) for the Sunnica Energy Farm, with the planning inspectorate confirming that the energy security secretary has decided to push back the decision on the DCO until 20 June.

President Biden’s Executive Order 14008 established the “Justice40 Initiative” with the goal that 40 percent of the overall benefits of federal investments in seven areas (clean energy and energy efficiency, clean transit, affordable and sustainable housing, training and workforce development, remediation of legacy pollution, critical clean water infrastructure, and climate change) be directed to disadvantaged communities. CEQ, OMB, and the White House Climate Policy Office published interim guidance, a screening tool, and an environmental justice scorecard to assist agencies with implementation of the Initiative. The guidance identified 21 pilot programs, including the Department of the Interior’s Abandoned Mine Land Economic Revitalization Program, Department of Energy’s Rural Energy for America Program, and EPA’s brownfields and lead reduction programs.   The General Accounting Office (GAO) recently issued a report on implementation of the Initiative. GAO surveyed the pilot programs and concluded that most found the “guidance and tools useful for developing and implementing their Justice40 plans and methodologies.” However, GAO also identified areas needing improvement in guidance, communication, and assessment of progress. GAO recommended that CEQ, OMB, and the White House Climate Policy Office better define the role of the White House Environmental Justice Interagency Council, assess and improve White House Environmental Justice Advisory Council (WHEJAC) communications with the Executive Office of the President, better use the Interagency Council’s resources to develop new guidance for implementation of the Justice40 Initiative, create systems to gather agency feedback on guidance, and establish a process to assess progress toward achievement of the Initiative’s goals. It will be interesting to see what new guidance emerges in response to these recommendations and whether it streamlines agencies’ implementation of Justice40 in the seven target areas. The report is available here:  https://lnkd.in/gA5PKnCs