Audience: Frontline Communities

The past few weeks have rough: from an “eye of fire” in the Gulf of Mexico and record-breaking heat in the West to tropical storm Elsa bearing down on our neighbors in south Florida, who are already mourning.
I’ve been warding off my personal feelings of grief, anger, and despair by doubling down on local activism efforts, and recently hosted the first in-person meeting of our “Green New Deal for Durham” leadership team since COVID.
It was so nice to be with people in three dimensions. We hugged each other and ate snacks. We did not worry about frozen cameras or choppy audio or unmuting. We captured next steps on a real whiteboard. And, I also found myself hyper-aware of the limitations of in-person gatherings, after 18 months of Zoom meetings. Turnout was lower than at our virtual gatherings as folks had to sort childcare, factor in commute time, and assess their personal health risk.
COVID dramatically altered our activism, and not all of the changes were bad. Even as we dip our toes into “post-pandemic” life, the virus continues to ravage communities around the U.S. and the world. This week, we’ll share some reflections and resources to help your organization navigate post-pandemic climate advocacy.
             

This report looks at this process of power building for just transition in four states: California, Kentucky, Louisiana, and New York. We combine an analysis of the pillars of just transition – strong governmental support, dedicated funding streams, diverse coalitions, and economic diversification – with an analysis of how to change power at a state level that focuses on the conditions that impact possibilities, the community-level capabilities that facilitate effective voice, and the arenas in which power is contested.