The Greater Cost of Eliminating DEI in the Face of the Climate Crisis

Written by Kate Saylor, CCAN’S NoVa New Leaf Volunteer

The Trump administration has chosen to recklessly eliminate diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) from the fabric of our federal government, and many businesses, large and small, are following suit. If only climate change would take a similar tactic and focus its efforts only on those with the means to respond to its devastating destruction, rather than taking a DEI approach by giving disadvantaged communities an equal (and often greater) taste of its wrath.

New Orleans, LA, August 30, 2005–Jocelyn Augustino/FEMA

With the elimination of DEI, the administration aims to achieve more “merit-based” hires, but I fear that, as has historically been the case, hiring committees (made up of predominantly affluent white men) will hire candidates that look, sound, and feel familiar, creating a government that doesn’t understand what it’s like to grow up without wealth or privilege or with skin pigmentation that betrays one as “other.” This will be so incredibly dangerous during a time when, again, climate change does not follow the memo to target only the rich and privileged. Of course, it would be lovely for climate change to focus its devastation only on those who have, say, another house they can retreat to. Perhaps though, we could settle for it to target only those who have comprehensive home insurance, a personal vehicle or two, and excellent health insurance to cover the detrimental effects of wildfire smoke and other pollutants, heat-related risks, and even the impacts on mental health that climate change brings.

But it won’t. Climate change will not reserve its wrath for those who can afford to face it. Instead, it harms the poor, who for example, are more likely to buy houses built in areas more prone to flooding, who can’t afford to evacuate, and who don’t have access to health care when they’re impacted.  Communities of color often face higher health risks from environmental hazards (e.g., air pollution, traffic, contaminated water) and are more vulnerable to climate-related health effects due to racial and socioeconomic disparities, including lack of access to quality housing, education, and food.

Turning our backs on DEI will mean not only fewer job opportunities for intelligent, creative, qualified members of the LGBTQIA+ community but also less access for people with physical or mental disabilities. Climate change, however, is not giving up on its DEI pursuits. Those who identify as queer can still expect a more difficult time recovering from climate disasters. This may be because recovery efforts are often powered by churches and other nonprofits that sometimes turn away the LGBTQIA+ community and other minorities. Perhaps it goes without saying, but climate change also has no intention to stop targeting our community members with limited abilities. From evacuation services to recovery to maintaining support services during emergencies to everyday struggles with air quality, the negative impacts of climate change disproportionately harm people with disabilities.

Asheville’s River Arts District Five Weeks After Helene

My sister was in the hospital this fall on a ventilator. She has Downs Syndrome, and, we discovered, a very rare autoimmune disease. Because she was fighting for her life, she didn’t have to fight for saline at the time, but many others did because saline was in short supply after Hurricane Helene hit a critical manufacturer in North Carolina. Last week however, as she received life-saving treatment for her autoimmune disease, we were told that the treatment should end with a saline drip, but saline is still in short supply, so she couldn’t get it.

Eliminating DEI from the federal government eliminates the opportunity to cultivate a culture of listening to the voices of those most impacted by climate change. But here in our communities, we can still make a difference. By joining grassroots organizations like the Chesapeake Climate Action Network, we can amplify the voices of frontline communities, push for stronger policies, and advocate for a more just, sustainable future. Together, we can take concrete steps to reduce emissions, protect our environment, and ensure that those most affected by climate change have a seat at the table. Now is the time to act — our communities need us, and our planet depends on us. Get involved, stay informed, and help create real change!

Written by Kate Saylor, CCAN’S NoVa New Leaf Volunteer

The Day After Inauguration: MLK Day 2025 and the Ongoing Struggle for Environmental Justice

As we reflect on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day in 2025, we honor the remarkable work of a leader who fought tirelessly for justice, equality, and the upliftment of marginalized communities. King’s advocacy for civil rights extended beyond racial equality; it encompassed economic justice, peace, and ultimately, environmental justice—a fight that remains just as urgent today. This year, however, the MLK Day celebration held an additional layer of significance. It coincided with the inauguration of President Donald Trump, a leader whose environmental policies often stand in stark opposition to the principles of climate justice. 

Yesterday marked a critical juncture in American history, providing an opportunity to revisit Dr. King’s vision of justice while grappling with the future of environmental justice in an era marked by growing opposition to climate action and environmental protections. While King’s words and actions emphasize the interconnection of all life, Trump’s track record reflects a stark disregard for the environment, often prioritizing corporate interests over the well-being of marginalized communities, especially those most vulnerable to environmental pollution. 

King famously said, “It really boils down to this: that all life is interrelated. We are all caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied into a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly.” These words resonate deeply when we consider the current state of environmental justice. Climate change and pollution disproportionately impact low-income communities and communities of color—those who are least responsible for the crisis but most affected by its consequences. Yet, under President Trump’s administration, the push for environmental protection is consistently undermined, leaving vulnerable populations even more at risk.

Dr. King’s fight for justice extended beyond racial and economic equality. He envisioned a world where everyone had access to a healthy and sustainable environment. His commitment to justice was holistic—emphasizing the connection between poverty, racism, and environmental degradation. The modern environmental justice movement, which advocates for protection from environmental harm for marginalized communities, draws from Dr. King’s understanding of justice as interconnected and inseparable from the fight for racial, economic, and social equity.

Yet, as we reflect on his legacy, we must confront the reality that President Trump’s administration has systematically rolled back environmental protections, prioritizing corporate interests over the health and well-being of the most vulnerable communities—communities Dr. King fought so hard to uplift. On his first day back as president, Trump signed an executive letter giving notice of the U.S. exit from the Paris Agreement, a global treaty seeking to combat the climate crisis. 

Dr. King’s Vision for Environmental Justice

Dr. King recognized that true justice was indivisible. In his speeches and actions, he highlighted the links between environmental harm and the struggles of the poor and people of color. In his 1967 speech, King called for systemic change, stating, “The time has come for us to civilize ourselves by the total, direct, and immediate abolition of poverty.” He also acknowledged the disproportionate environmental burdens placed on marginalized communities, pointing out that pollution and ecological degradation often fell hardest on the poor, particularly communities of color. His words laid the foundation for today’s environmental justice movement, which advocates for equal protection from environmental hazards for all, with a particular focus on those most vulnerable.

Environmental Justice Under Trump’s Administration

Now, as President Trump enters his second term, the environmental landscape remains bleak for those who believe in the fight for a just and equitable future. Under Trump’s leadership, the federal government has rolled back crucial environmental protections, undermining efforts to confront climate change and safeguard vulnerable populations.

One example of this is the 2019 executive order that directed the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) to ease restrictions on transporting liquefied natural gas (LNG) by rail. This decision put both the environment and public safety at risk, especially in communities already burdened by pollution and health risks. Many of the areas that would be affected by this policy are low-income and predominantly communities of color—groups that Dr. King tirelessly advocated for.

Thankfully, days before the inauguration, the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit overturned President Trump’s LNG by Rail Rule. In this instance, as in many others, corporate interests took precedence over the health and safety of the people Dr. King sought to protect. The Trump administration’s track record is a stark reminder of the ongoing need to defend environmental justice.

The Ongoing Fight for Environmental Justice

As we reflect on MLK Day 2025, it is clear that environmental justice remains a critical issue in the face of the climate crisis. Today, more than ever, we must continue to fight for Dr. King’s vision of justice, which encompasses the right to live in a healthy, sustainable environment. The rollback of protections like the 2019 LNG rail transport order represents just one piece of the puzzle in an administration that prioritizes fossil fuel interests over the needs of vulnerable communities. 

By making decisions that benefit the fossil fuel industry at the expense of environmental protections, Trump’s policies have exacerbated the injustices faced by those most vulnerable to environmental harm. Yet, despite these challenges, the fight for environmental justice continues.

King’s dream of a better, more equitable world—one in which all people can live in healthy, sustainable communities—remains alive in the work of countless activists, organizations, and communities across the globe. From grassroots movements fighting for clean water and air to calls for stronger regulations and sustainable energy solutions, the spirit of resistance against environmental injustice continues to thrive.

 

A Call to Action: Upholding Dr. King’s Legacy

As we honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., we must redouble our efforts to continue the fight for justice in all its forms. We must push back against harmful policies, and hold our leaders accountable for the future of our planet and its most vulnerable inhabitants.

Consider taking action:

  • Support environmental justice organizations – Join or donate to groups like CCAN that are working on the frontlines to protect vulnerable communities from environmental harm.

Dr. King’s words continue to inspire us: “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” As we face the realities of the climate crisis we must remain united in the struggle for justice—today, tomorrow, and the next four years. 

The Mideast war hurts humanity and climate progress. We support Bernie Sanders’ resolutions.

We are a climate group laser focused on clean energy solutions to global warming. But we are also human beings whose hearts break over the seemingly endless war and suffering in the Middle East. The double tragedy of the current war is it diverts world attention and resources away from other vital issues like our collapsing climate.

We agree with U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vr.) that Israel has the right to defend itself, especially after the horrifying Hamas attack of October 7, 2023. We also agree with Sen. Sanders that Israel must follow U.S. and international laws governing the use of weapons against innocent noncombatants. Sadly, as outlined in Sen. Sanders’ letter to his Senate colleagues, Israel is not following those standards.

Therefore, we support the Joint Resolutions of Disapproval that Senator Sanders announced at a press conference today, accompanied by Sens. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), and Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.). It is our hope that the adoption of these resolutions can speed the end of this current war and all its suffering.

War is bad for people and the climate. Contact your U.S. Senators: Tell them to vote “yes” on resolutions to make sure American weapons used in the Gaza conflict meet U.S. and international humanitarian laws protecting innocent civilians.

If we want citizens in this country and the world to care about the facts of any international issue – from war to climate change – then our government must acknowledge facts and follow the law. By ignoring and therefore condoning Israel’s improper use of weapons in Gaza, the U.S. is not only aiding mass killing, it’s eroding the entire rules-based order of international law.

To be clear, first and foremost, this is a humanitarian tragedy with assistance from U.S. taxpayers. It must stop. Secondarily, if we ever want to lead again on any global issue, including climate change, we have to acknowledge vital truths and act in the best interest of all nations.

Contact your U.S. Senators: Tell them to vote “yes” on resolutions to make sure American weapons used in the Gaza conflict meet U.S. and international humanitarian laws protecting innocent civilians.

To reiterate, we are first and foremost a clean energy group with one overriding mission: To solve the climate crisis everywhere with clean energy for everyone.

But this is an intersectional world and from time to time it is important to speak out on issues of justice that impact all people and all issues. We are not alone. Climate groups like Sunrise and longtime leaders like the Rev. Lennox Yearwood are supporting this call to action — recognizing that all our struggles are connected. 

The Senate committee is expected to vote tomorrow on Sen. Sanders’ resolutions. As a diverse organization, with staff members who are Muslim, Jewish, Christian, and nonreligious, we hope you will contact your U.S. Senators today and urge them to vote “yes”.

Hurricane Helene Mutual Aid Resources

Our hearts are with the people of Appalachia, who are currently suffering brutal devastation from climate change-supercharged Hurricane Helene. Those affected need support now more than ever – click the link below to find out how you can lend a hand. 

Then, take action: Tell Congress: Strengthen FEMA’s Disaster Relief Fund for Hurricane Helene recovery

If you know of more resources that we have missed, email info@chesapeakeclimate.org

Meet Meredith Prescott: CCAN’s New Invasive Vines Organizer

Hello! My name is Meredith (she/her) and I am thrilled to be joining the CCAN community as the Invasive Vines Program Manager.

My relationship with nature began in the wild forests and rocky coastlines of rural Maine, where I spent my childhood exploring. I moved to DC in 2015 to study Public Health at George Washington University, where I also had my first taste of service learning in local parks.

Studying public health while doing volunteer work in urban green spaces helped me see the fundamental connection between the two. I quickly learned that in DC, both parks and public health tell a story of inequality. It shocked me to learn that we can predict expected health outcomes in DC simply on geography alone. Which side of the Anacostia River you live on may literally add a decade or more to your life expectancy. And in these same areas where residents have worse health outcomes, we also see underfunded and underutilized public parks.

After graduating from GW, I rolled up my sleeves and got to work. With the Student Conservation Association, I brought groups of high school students to complete conservation projects both in Rock Creek Park in NW DC and National Capital Parks-East (NACE) in SE DC. Both parks are rich in biodiversity and provide much needed sanctity from the city with their trails, picnic areas, and recreation spaces. However, the difference in management and upkeep of these two green spaces could not be more stark. In Rock Creek, you will see residents enjoying miles of well-maintained hiker/biker trails and pristinely mowed picnic areas. Meanwhile, NACE parks in SE DC often feel like a jungle of neglect, with trails made impassable by erosion and overgrowth, trash littering the ground, and entire swaths of forest overtaken by invasive species. This makes sense when you consider that Rock Creek Park receives over five times the funding per acre. (Additionally, the National Mall receives 80 times more funding for its 146 acres than NACE parks does for its 8,000 acres).

Despite the challenges and frustrations, my work in these parks has been incredibly rewarding. It’s not just about maintaining green spaces; it’s about empowering people. For many of our young people, hands-on service to the land is a much needed way to take action in what sometimes feels like a powerless fight against the climate crisis. It inspires me to see young people who may engage in this work primarily to fulfill a volunteer requirement and emerge with a sense of community, passion, and gratitude for the ability to spend time outdoors.

In my time working in DC parks, I have built trails, planted trees, installed countless erosion control structures, and even constructed a boardwalk or two. However, there has been no project that is both rewarding and low-maintenance like invasive species removal. It’s a tangible, hands-on way to make a noticeable difference in a short time and a great way to build community around outdoor work. We may not be able to fix the systemic issues that have gotten us to this point in the climate crisis, but we can all go outside and tackle those invasive vines one by one. And in the face of massive biodiversity loss at a global level, it is more necessary than ever.

I am thrilled to kick off this new chapter with CCAN, reigniting this volunteer program and working towards making every green space accessible and thriving. Every vine pulled is a step towards a greener, more equitable world. Let’s get to work!

Click HERE to learn more about CCAN’s efforts to save trees from invasive vines. If you’re interested in getting involved, email meredith@chesapeakeclimate.org

 

Funding for this project is provided by the Inflation Reduction Act and the USDA Forest Service, Urban and Community Forestry Program in partnership with Casey Trees. 

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

A Lasting Legacy: Support CCAN’s 2025 Diana Dascalu-Joffe Legal Fellowship

Diana worked for CCAN from 2005 to 2015 as our extraordinary staff attorney and grants manager. She helped shepherd CCAN from a tiny staff of three – working in a backyard shed in Takoma Park – to the dynamic regional climate group we are today. This Fellowship honors her memory by helping law students in the region gain summer legal experience and follow in Diana’s footsteps as a fierce defender of the environment.

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Planting the Seeds for a Climate-Smart and Climate-Just Farm Bill

A blog by Jasmine Perez, Federal Climate Justice Fellow

I have always felt drawn to the land. During my summer breaks, I would accompany my dad in our vegetable garden that bordered our tiny, 750-square-foot backyard in Belleville, New Jersey. I distinctly remember the joy that painted my dad’s face with the sight of a new harvest. Whether it was a single cherry tomato, or a bowl overflowing with peppers, eggplants, and kale; the feeling of having grown something that would nourish oneself and one’s loved ones was one of pride, and gratification.

My dad’s backyard garden is just one of the many examples of how my family history is deeply rooted in tending to the land. In the Philippines, my grandfather and great-grandfather worked as chief agriculturalists where they grew mangoes, rice, and bananas for their community. Meanwhile, my grandmother tended an urban garden in Bulacan, Philippines, where you can observe tropical plants vining across barred windows, and stemming from a series of upcycled coffee ground containers sprinkled along on her concrete lawn. Indeed, the “green gene” as I like to call it, never seemed to skip a generation. In me, it manifests in the path that I have chosen to pursue in environmental policy.

Current Farm Bill Debate Spotlights Climate Justice Challenges

This summer, as the Federal Climate Justice Fellow with the Chesapeake Climate Action Network (CCAN), I have conducted research, and assisted in action efforts for a range of federal climate-related policies. The farm bill is one such federal policy that provides essential funding for a range of agriculture and nutrition programs, and Congress renews the farm bill every five years, taking into account the ever-changing needs of agricultural and food-insecure communities across the nation. Because of the essential funding it provides, the farm bill drives much of the decision making in the agriculture industry which emits roughly 10% of the U.S.’s greenhouse gas emissions.

Currently, the key priorities of the farm bill are being deliberated among Congress. While the House-supported farm bill primarily advocates for the interests of big agriculture, the Senate-supported farm bill advocates for the interests of small-scale, rural, and BIPOC-owned farming operations, in addition to further supporting nutrition assistance programs and climate-smart practices. The Senate Agriculture Committee’s farm bill proposal highlights the growing prioritization of equality and justice within the agricultural sector, as it seeks to fund programs and initiatives that would address the concerns of small-scale, rural, and BIPOC-owned farms which have been historically neglected and disenfranchised.

Today, black farmers own less than 1% of U.S. farmland. When examining farms across the U.S., there is a striking disproportionality in the subsidies, or lack thereof, afforded to black farmers for reasons ranging from insufficient acreage to predominantly farming livestock. Further, from a nutritional standpoint, 41.2 million people in the United States relied on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) in the 2022 fiscal year. SNAP is a key beneficiary of funding via the farm bill and strives to support food security and nutrition assistance for low-income individuals and families. To put this into perspective, from 2021 to 2022, food insecurity rates among black households jumped 2.6% and that number nearly doubled to 4.6% among Hispanic households. Thus, the question of whether a climate-smart farm bill is passed not only signifies a climate change-related issue, but also, an issue of climate justice. 

Understanding Local Impacts of Farm Policy and Climate Change

However, figures only tell part of the story; which is why in order to truly understand what is at stake, I spoke to two individuals who have deep roots in food cultivation and have agreed to share their stories on the importance of farming, food justice, and fighting for our climate. 

The first is Esperanza Ortega-Tapia, or Espie for short. In addition to working as a NASA Lifelines Fellow, Espie also works as a Research Assistant for the Global Food Institute. Espie began by reminiscing on summers spent alongside her grandparents growing chilis in their garden which is what inspired Espie’s present dedication to food and climate justice.

 “Growing up and having that connection to the land and to the food that we were eating was so commonplace,” Espie recalls. However, because of climate change, they are no longer able to grow chili, a loss that is shared by her family, and by people all around the world who grow food.

 “It is worrying to think about the effects of climate change, traditionally, culturally, and socially,” Espie says. “Climate change is not just about the warming of the planet, it is also about farmers and how their land is dwindling.” 

Though the situation is dire, Espie recognizes that what was lost can be restored with the government’s help. She went on to explain how a Senate-supported farm bill would not only support farmers, but would also support nutrition assistance through SNAP, as well as bolster climate justice at large.

 “Climate justice through a food systems lens means having people be able to grow their own crops, and grow food that is culturally appropriate for them–it means being able to grow chili,” Espie explained.

Climate justice is further magnified in the story of Tanya Doka-Spandhla who is the founder of Passion to Seed Gardening, where she grows culturally appropriate foods for people of the African diaspora. After emigrating to the U.S. from Zimbabwe, Tanya noticed how the produce tasted different.

 “I was used to eating produce that didn’t have any chemicals in it and was grown naturally,” she recalls. This experience, in addition to her roots in backyard gardening with her parents in Zimbabwe, are what planted the seeds for Doka-Spandhla to begin growing her own food in Montgomery County, Maryland. However, the path towards Passion to Seed Gardening was bound with multiple obstacles, from labor costs, theft of produce, and perhaps most of all is climate change. 

“The extreme temperatures have really been a very noticeable factor,” Tanya explains. This challenge is coupled with the fact that small-scale farmers face a range of hurdles to compete against larger commodity farms, such as a lack of government assistance, which is compounded by economic pressures like fluctuating market prices. When asked about what role the government could play in ensuring that she can continue farming, she highlighted the importance of understanding the challenges that small-scale farmers face, such as limiting the barriers to access when it comes to accessing grants. 

Tanya explains, “Whereby you don’t have to go through a lot of paperwork, it just leads to more stress and more challenges on top of what we already experience because as a farmer, my focus is to go into the field and grow whatever I need to grow and make sure that produce is taken where it needs to go.” 

The Power of a Climate-Smart Farm Bill and Backyard Gardens

The Senate-supported farm bill, otherwise known as The Rural Prosperity and Food Security Act of 2024 would help to alleviate many of the challenges that Espie and Tanya mentioned. But, as we await its passing, Tanya shared her unwavering faith in the impact of small-scale farms in the following message:

 “The fact that this food that I am growing naturally is going to feed somebody in a community that would not necessarily be able to access it otherwise, and knowing that I am fulfilling a need is what makes me joyful about the work that I do.” 

With all of this in mind, I am left with the following takeaways. 

The first thing I realized is that without the passing of a climate-smart national farm bill, emissions from big agriculture will continue to see a steady rise, as will rates of food insecurity, and overall climate injustice. But my other biggest takeaway is that there is also so much power and possibility to be found through a simple backyard garden. My garden in New Jersey served as the catalyst to pursue a career in environmental policy. Espie’s chili garden in New Mexico ignited the flame within them to fight for food justice and food sovereignty. Tanya’s garden in Zimbabwe is what inspired her to start Passion to Seed Gardening and thus, grow natural and nutritious food for communities in need. 

These are just a few examples of the importance of storytelling in helping us all come together for the sake of our planet and our people. Are you ready to share your climate story? Sign the petition to “Tell Congress: We Need A Strong Climate-Friendly Farm Bill NOW!” Then become a CCAN Action Member and find your local team.

 

 

Jasmine Perez (she/her) is a student at The University of Vermont (UVM) where she majors in Environmental Studies and Political Science. Her work is centered around the intersection between the environment, and policy-making in hopes to achieve healthy, just, and thriving communities amidst an ever-changing climate.