Audience: Low-Income Communities

A significant portion of Americans are effectively politically invisible because their names aren’t on any major voter registration or consumer files that political professionals and scholars rely on. At least 11% of all Americans are unlisted, and an additional 12% are listed with incorrect addresses. Unsurprisingly, these groups of Americans report being contacted by political campaigns far less often. Further, by racial/ethnic breakdown, roughly 40% of Black and Latino Americans are “unreachable” (i.e., unlisted or mislisted), but only 18% of white Americans are. This unreachable group, as a whole, is much lower-income than other voters, is significantly Democratic in party identification, and holds more pro-welfare spending policy opinions. Overall, the over-reliance on voter and consumer file lists may perpetuate political inequality, but there may also be a political opportunity to engage with this “unreachable” group.             

We celebrate Pride at the end of June to remember the Stonewall rebellion/riot to fight police oppression. I joined the LGBTQ movement and the climate movement because I want to end suffering and protect beautiful places and people. Both these movements are about health, justice, resilience, and liberation. As a queer climate advocate, I think it’s important to draw direct connections across liberation struggles, the fight for queer liberation and the climate justice movement, so we can build solidarity and sharpen our political analysis on how to win and expand a social base of power that sees our common interest.

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.

The concept of a “just transition” has permeated mainstream discourse, yet those who will likely be most impacted by the energy transition – frontline workers and their communities – have mostly been excluded from the conversation. This report, derived from over 100 listening sessions and interviews with workers and frontline community members, encourages policymakers to:

Go Big: Be guided by a just transition vision that is ambitious and comprehensive in order to address the scope of impacts for affected communities and industries. Job creation, labor standards, and workers’ rights must be included.
Go Wide: Impacts from economic transitions can be felt in a number of ways, from financial to social to psychological. Policymakers should engage with existing social infrastructure such as labor unions, frontline community groups, and Indigenous nations to make sure support is readily available.
Go Far: While the climate crisis is urgent, just transition plans must not be fixated on the short-term. Instead, policymakers should include long-term commitments to workers and their communities as part of their vision and take into account differences in generational needs between older, established workers and those just entering the workforce.

In addition, the report addresses how labor and advocacy organizations need to develop authentic, trusting relationships with each other to build political and policy alignment around just transition goals. One way to start is to establish and expand internal committees and capacities to understand each other’s issues and perspectives.

Studies have shown that low-income communities and communities of color are subject to poor health outcomes and loss of life because of exposure to toxins and the negative impacts of climate change. Thus, it is important to develop open and inclusive solar policymaking that addresses past, current, and future impacts of pollution on BIPOC and other frontline communities. Equitable solar policy must incorporate transparency, ownership, accountability, and lead communities to a more resilient and just future.