Environmental/Climate Justice

Latino Climate Justice Framework 2025-28

The climate crisis continues to intensify, disproportionately affecting Latino/a/e communities across the United States. These impacts intersect with and exacerbate long-standing inequities and injustices, creating urgent challenges that require immediate attention and action. While some effective climate measures have been implemented, there are concerns false solutions may perpetuate environmental injustices while delaying necessary transitions to renewable energy. A GreenLatinos analysis of funding from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) in five states with significant Latino/a/e populations found promising trends in investments, but also revealed that IIJA funding does not meet the pace of action needed to combat the worst of the climate crisis. We must hold our government accountable to financing long-term solutions that contribute to the environmental liberation of the Latino/a/e community and beyond. The LCJF remains committed to advocating for essential policies that prioritize the needs of Latino/a/e communities, including an equitable clean energy transition, climate resilience investments, strong worker protections, and meaningful community engagement in climate policy decisions.

Lab 101: Using Evidence-Based Advocacy for Impact

Join us for an introductory session that dives into the essentials of evidence-based advocacy in the climate movement. In this training, you'll learn how to effectively leverage research, data, and proven strategies to amplify your advocacy efforts and create real impact. Whether you're new to advocacy or looking to refine your approach, this workshop will equip you with the tools and knowledge to use evidence to strengthen your campaigns and drive change.

Building a Donor Ladder of Engagement

Join us here at the Lab for Building a Donor Ladder of Engagement co-hosted by Haley Bash from Donor Organizer Hub! This training will help you build a donor engagement ladder by:

- ​Applying strategies that build collective trust and community that attracts donors outside of your immediate network
- ​Identifying your cause’s target donor and how to invite them into your cause
- ​Developing an engagement ladder to transform someone from stranger to donor organizer for your cause
​- Building systems to track progress and goals with donor engagement and leadership

The Housing and Climate Equity Series Presents: At The Crossroads of Climate and Housing Justice: Field Scan and Needs Assessment

This guide provides a landscape scan and needs assessment of the work being done at the intersection of climate and housing justice. While tremendous work is underway at the intersection of housing and climate justice, many challenges remain. This brief concludes with recommended investments in 1) technical assistance and research, 2) movement support, and 3) toolkits and popular education materials to unlock the potential of the work and ensure more healthy, stable, and resilient homes for EJ communities. This guide presents interviews with thirteen environmental justice (EJ) leaders, including three from “grasstops” organizations and ten from grassroots advocacy and coalition organizations, including two from the East Coast, one from the Midwest, five from the West Coast, one from the Mountain Region, and two from the South. EJ organizations are working on a wide range of programs and policies at the intersection of housing and climate justice, from working in coalitions to advocate for specific policies and programs to monitoring, outreach, and engagement around implementation. This brief highlights many examples of this work across the following categories: building decarbonization and healthy homes; accelerating energy transition and relieving energy burden; and neighborhood-level decarbonization and resilience.

State of the Youth Climate Movement with the Lab and YCFA

Join Youth Climate Finance Alliance and the Climate Advocacy Lab where we’ll share more about our new “State of the US Youth Climate Movement” Report and Zine." We will review our research methodology, key findings, and how learnings are shaping our shifts in our programming and organizing strategy. With hopes to resource climate advocates to better contextualize the state of the domestic US youth climate movement and its challenges - to intergenerational allies, movement partners, as well as funder networks - we will highlight key case studies and have plenty of time to discuss and reflect You can view the full report (bit.ly/YCFAReport), as well as the zine at bit.ly/YCFAZine.

Amp Up the People: A Practical Guide for Energy Justice Advocates in Utility Regulation

This guide aims to ensure that frontline communities can better understand and actively engage in the energy transition. This guide can serve as a valuable resource for energy justice advocates by simplifying the intricacies of utility regulation and providing essential tools, resources, and strategies. The guide breaks down the sometimes complicated world of energy regulation, providing explanations of key concepts such as Integrated Resource Plans (IRPs), rate cases, and the role of Public Utility Commissions (PUCs). Learn about typical processes that happen at utility commissions, including public hearings and stakeholder engagement opportunities. This includes tips on preparing effective public comments, participating in public hearings, and collaborating with other advocates to make a real difference in shaping energy policies. Find actionable recommendations tailored to community organizations, policymakers, and regulators. Explore real-world examples of advocacy efforts that have led to positive changes in energy policy.

Has Michigan Uncovered the Secret to More Jobs, Lower Energy Bills, and a Growing Middle Class?

Michigan’s future includes lower monthly energy costs, the freedom to live without pollution, and more good-paying jobs and a growing middle class. Michigan’s economy is surging, supercharged by the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and a suite of nation-leading clean energy bills passed by the Michigan state government last November. Michigan now has more clean energy projects than any other state and is ranked fourth in the country for new clean energy jobs. Clean energy businesses, which are creating jobs and growing the state’s workforce, are the first to say it: They are planting their stakes in Michigan, largely thanks to strong climate policies. The latest analysis from 5 Lakes Energy (PDF) shows that the state’s climate legislation package, in tandem with the IRA, goes way beyond cutting climate pollution. It will create economy-wide change by saving Michigan families hundreds of dollars in energy bills, bringing more clean energy jobs and investments into the state, and protecting communities from the harmful effects of pollution.

Environmental Polling Roundup – September 6th, 2024

This post includes climate and environment headlines, data points, and key takeaways from recent public polls - including lots of new polling on climate and the environment as issues in this year’s election, new polling of Latino voters, new polling about conservation in the states that touch the Mississippi River, and new polling about clean energy infrastructure siting in California.