By Kevin Olp
There is such a thing as being too late – and when it comes to environmental injustices and climate change, that time could nearly be upon us. But, thankfully, there are young people who care very much about our future.
As I travel across the country, I am constantly inspired by the passions of young people who truly believe that if we act here, if we act now, and if we continue to look at the future, rather than our short-term interests, then we will not run out of time.
To me, this fervor is not surprising as this generation of young people is truly the first to feel the growing effects of climate change within their communities’ long prevailing issues with pollution and ecological degradation. As a result, young people are acutely aware of these impacts not only upon the physical environment but also upon the people who bear its burdens.
I am renewed with hope when I speak to young people about their passions because I see that they seem to intuitively know that at the intersection of social equity and climate change sits environmental justice, with its progress and passion and history of elevating issues of importance and improving the lives of low income and minority communities.
I have watched as young people have been propelled into action because they are witnessing firsthand how climate change and pollution are impacting the quality of the air they breathe, the food they eat, the water they drink, and the environments they call home.
And what is even more incredible is that I see how young people understand that there are communities across this nation that disproportionately suffer as a consequence. The first step towards progress is for all people to understand the issues at hand. Young people do. They understand that low-income and minority populations have consistently received the short-end when it comes to environmental protection. What I find truly most remarkable however is that young people are pushing forward and they are eager to do something about these problems – despite the fact that they did not create them.
I know that EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy shares my sentiments as she has stressed on numerous occasions that “if we really want to acknowledge the fact that we’re doing this for our kids and it’s all about them, it’s certainly about time that they had a formal way of voicing their own opinion.”
With that in mind, the EPA’s Office of Environmental Justice is proud to announce our “Youth in Action” series, which will be published every Tuesday on the Environmental Justice in Action blog.
We have been working with young activists to give them a platform to share their stories and the work they have been doing to promote environmental justice in their communities. Our young authors demonstrate that they are leaders who are taking charge of this movement! Their stories hail from Washington State to Texas to New York and they touch on a myriad of topics ranging from energy democracy to urban farming to climate refugees.
We are so excited to honor the incredible work of these young people. Their stories are truly incredible! I am certain that you will enjoy reading them as much as I have.
And, if you are a young person who is interested in having your environmental and climate justice work highlighted on the blog, then please contact Simone Walter (walter.simone@epa.gov) for further information.
About the Author: Kevin Olp is the Director of Communications for the EPA’s Office of Environmental Justice.
from The EPA Blog http://ift.tt/2enTOBt
By Kevin Olp
There is such a thing as being too late – and when it comes to environmental injustices and climate change, that time could nearly be upon us. But, thankfully, there are young people who care very much about our future.
As I travel across the country, I am constantly inspired by the passions of young people who truly believe that if we act here, if we act now, and if we continue to look at the future, rather than our short-term interests, then we will not run out of time.
To me, this fervor is not surprising as this generation of young people is truly the first to feel the growing effects of climate change within their communities’ long prevailing issues with pollution and ecological degradation. As a result, young people are acutely aware of these impacts not only upon the physical environment but also upon the people who bear its burdens.
I am renewed with hope when I speak to young people about their passions because I see that they seem to intuitively know that at the intersection of social equity and climate change sits environmental justice, with its progress and passion and history of elevating issues of importance and improving the lives of low income and minority communities.
I have watched as young people have been propelled into action because they are witnessing firsthand how climate change and pollution are impacting the quality of the air they breathe, the food they eat, the water they drink, and the environments they call home.
And what is even more incredible is that I see how young people understand that there are communities across this nation that disproportionately suffer as a consequence. The first step towards progress is for all people to understand the issues at hand. Young people do. They understand that low-income and minority populations have consistently received the short-end when it comes to environmental protection. What I find truly most remarkable however is that young people are pushing forward and they are eager to do something about these problems – despite the fact that they did not create them.
I know that EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy shares my sentiments as she has stressed on numerous occasions that “if we really want to acknowledge the fact that we’re doing this for our kids and it’s all about them, it’s certainly about time that they had a formal way of voicing their own opinion.”
With that in mind, the EPA’s Office of Environmental Justice is proud to announce our “Youth in Action” series, which will be published every Tuesday on the Environmental Justice in Action blog.
We have been working with young activists to give them a platform to share their stories and the work they have been doing to promote environmental justice in their communities. Our young authors demonstrate that they are leaders who are taking charge of this movement! Their stories hail from Washington State to Texas to New York and they touch on a myriad of topics ranging from energy democracy to urban farming to climate refugees.
We are so excited to honor the incredible work of these young people. Their stories are truly incredible! I am certain that you will enjoy reading them as much as I have.
And, if you are a young person who is interested in having your environmental and climate justice work highlighted on the blog, then please contact Simone Walter (walter.simone@epa.gov) for further information.
About the Author: Kevin Olp is the Director of Communications for the EPA’s Office of Environmental Justice.
from The EPA Blog http://ift.tt/2enTOBt
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