Consider This from NPR Social Justice and Climate Justice: How One Environmental Leader Is Moving Forward
Feb 20, 2023
The discussion unveils the Sierra Club's efforts to reconcile its exclusionary past while pursuing ambitious climate goals. Ben Jealous highlights the connection between social justice and climate action, especially for communities hit hardest by climate change. The conversation emphasizes the need for resilience and proactive strategies in environmental leadership, acknowledging the importance of inclusivity in advocacy. A climate activist's call to action underscores the urgency for immediate change in addressing these intertwined challenges.
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Childhood in Big Sur
- Ben Jealous' parents, a Black mother and white father, had an interracial marriage, illegal at the time.
- He grew up playing amidst redwood trees in Northern California's Big Sur.
Climate Justice as Social Justice
- Jealous views his role at Sierra Club as a continuation of his lifelong fight for equality and justice.
- He launched the NAACP's climate justice program, recognizing climate change's impact on vulnerable communities.
Sierra Club's Achievements
- The Sierra Club has effectively shut down over 250 coal plants in the last decade.
- They also helped pass the Inflation Reduction Act and the related Infrastructure Bill, marking a turning point in the US economy.