Pacific Environment’s Post

THIS SUNDAY! Please join the San Luis Obispo County Climate Justice Alliance for a screening of the environmental justice-themed documentary “Cooked: Survival by Zip Code” this Sunday, September 22nd at 1 pm at the Palm Theatre in downtown SLO. Directed and produced by the Peabody Award-winning Judith Helfand (adapting the book “Heat Wave: A Social Autopsy of Disaster in Chicago” by Eric Klinenberg), “Cooked” tells the shocking story of a 1995 heat wave that devastated the most vulnerable and impoverished communities in Chicago. As the temperature climbed to 104, people could not open their windows, because they were nailed shut against the crime-ridden streets. As the death toll climbs to 800, we watch as local government officials go from concerned to defensive to questioning that so many deaths were attributable to the heat. As “Cooked” so forcefully points out, we can celebrate that governments are more prepared to respond to natural disasters than ever before, but we’ve done little to address the underlying socio-economic conditions. There will be a community discussion following the screening featuring highlights of local resiliency programs and resources. Tickets can be bought at the ticket office or online: https://lnkd.in/gTkfy-X9 The SLO County Climate Justice Alliance is comprised of local climate and diversity nonprofits, including SLO Climate Coalition, Diversity Coalition San Luis Obispo County, Ecologistics, RACE Matters, and Cal Poly Initiative for Climate Leadership and Resilience. #environmentaljustice #climatejustice #socialjustice #heatwave #documentary #SanLuisObispo #PalmTheatre #SLOCountyClimateJusticeAlliance #SLOCCJA #CalPolyICLR #DiversityCoalitionSLO #SLOClimateCoalition #Ecologistics #RACEMattersSLO

GYC works hard to keep the region’s rivers wild, clean, and free-flowing. Here at the headwaters of the West, we know that the health of the rivers in Greater Yellowstone impact not only our ecosystem and communities, but also those far downstream. https://lnkd.in/gHig6psm

The key criterion for Woodland Trust support - "500+ trees are planted on at least half a hectare" - seems odd in this age of natural regeneration. That's way too high a density and bypasses the incredibly biodiverse flower-rich grassland-shrubland mosaic phase that we all know so many species of conservation concern need. Planting wall-to-wall whips does NOT foster natural woodland development. Assisted natural regeneration does where small groups of native trees and shrubs are planted, leaving plenty of open ground in the early years.

The Nature Conservancy, other environmental and community-based organizations are working to empower the communities most often impacted by climate change to fund and implement solutions on their terms. Since 2019, a core team of conservation, environmental justice and community advocacy organizations—convened by TNC—has come together with the goal of securing additional funding for addressing the causes and impacts of climate change, with an intentional focus on underserved people of color and low-income people previously underserved by funding programs. Visit the link to read the full article, including the proposed community-driven solutions. https://nature.ly/3wXByZC #ClimateAction #CommunityEmpowerment #Sustainability

🌟 Today's Spotlight: Support Community Resilience. Let's actively engage with local communities and support initiatives that enhance resilience to environmental challenges. Whether it's through volunteering for environmental cleanup efforts or providing expertise for disaster preparedness plans, we can contribute to building stronger, more resilient communities. 🌟 #NOVAinYourNeighborhood #CommunityResilience #TogetherWeRise #Earth #EnvironmentalCleanup 🌱💪

Every drop counts: Celebrating #World Water Day 💧 Let's unite to protect our planet's most. Did you know that under the Environment Conservation Program, #VIN also prioritizes #CleanDrinkingWaterProjects and offers opportunities for volunteering in Water Research Projects?⌛ VIN's #WaterResearchProject encompasses various dimensions of water. Its objective is to investigate a range of water-related issues, including year-round water availability, competing demands, potential conflicts over water resources, wastewater, and sanitation challenges, to implement effective Water Resource Management initiatives. Click here to learn more about our Water Project: 👇 https://lnkd.in/dvuN5_Ks Photo Courtesy: @larafrassine #WorldWaterDay #SaveWater #waterforpeace #waterforall #cleandrinkingwater #savewatersavelife #environmentconservation #waterrresearch #volunteersinitiativenepal #vinvolunteers #volunteerabroad #volunteernepal #holisticprojects

Southern Arizona has a network of cooling centers, but as more extreme heat days drive demand, there are challenges in access, visibility, and capacity. These climate change effects are clear, as are the impacts of inaction, which is why Justicia Juntos, an initiative led by Amistades, Inc., is a great model for cities seeking meaningful partnerships that result in true community change. Learn more about how this project leveraged an Environmental Justice Collaborative Problem Solving Cooperative Agreement grant award from the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to combat the effects of extreme heat on Latino communities in the city of Tucson, AZ. https://lnkd.in/ecGVEuxY #localinfrastructurehub #federalgrants #climateimpacts #equitableaccess

Indiana’s wetlands are not just beautiful – they are vital to our way of life. They provide habitat for wildlife, reduce flooding, improve water quality, and protect us from extreme weather. But greedy corporations and developers, with the support of some elected representatives, are putting our natural resources at risk for their own profit. 📊 The Reality: Many Hoosiers understand the importance of wetlands, yet these essential areas are under threat from corporate and political greed. Our natural lands are being polluted and abused, with profits going to a few while the costs are borne by all of us. It’s time to stand up and protect our environment for future generations. Let’s keep Indiana beautiful and resilient. Be an environmental protection voter this year and stand up for Indiana’s wetlands in November by registering to vote now. 🌍 #ProtectOurWetlands #EnvironmentFirst #HoosierPride

Among the solutions: ➡️ Justice: Center environmental justice, health equity and housing needs to build the diverse coalitions vital to enacting climate policies; ➡️ Indigenous leadership: Fully incorporate Indigenous people and their ecological knowledge in government, in both state environmental policy and in wildfire management; ➡️ Add greenery to cool heat islands: Add more greenery to cities to lower the temperature around heat islands, add shade and reduce heat risks in low-income communities; ➡️ Expand marshlands to protect coasts: Allow for landward expansion of coastal wetlands and marshes—sometimes into agricultural land—to gain protection against sea-level rise, storm surges and saltwater inundation of freshwater ecosystems; ➡️ Denser cities, fewer houses in wildfire zones: Increase firewise planning, such as where to allow development and what materials can be used, to reduce wildfire encroachment on suburban and urban areas and to protect housing. https://lnkd.in/ey_an6mu

Since watersheds span various communities, building strong partnerships is a key part of #watershed #conservation efforts. Join us on January 25 for this free WHC webinar, where we’ll share how we developed an equitable partnership for conservation. https://bit.ly/47G6mu4