Angel Bautista
FEMA Proposes Rule Change that is a Step Toward Equity and Improving Access
On January 22, FEMA released an Interim Final Rule that proposes significant modifications to their Individual Assistance (IA) Program that provides financial assistance and direct services to eligible individuals and households affected by presidentially declared disasters. This change means that disaster survivors will have greater accessibility and more benefits to FEMA assistance. For so long,…
HHS Engages Healthcare Providers in Climate Solutions: Opportunities, Models, and Barriers
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has launched a new initiative to mobilize the healthcare sector, particularly safety net providers, to take advantage of opportunities in the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) to reduce its own greenhouse gas emissions, increase energy efficiency, and improve climate preparedness and resilience. The HHS Office of Climate…
Cultivating Collaboration: Reflections from the Creating a Climate for Change Conference
At the end of last year, I traveled to Florence, South Carolina, to attend the Creating a Climate for Change conference. Hosted annually by the New Alpha Community Development Corporation and the Whitney M. Slater Foundation, the event is a dynamic forum for learning, networking, and envisioning a sustainable future for communities within and beyond…
Curbing Pollution in Frontline Communities
Across the United States, Black, Indigenous, and communities of color are disproportionately impacted by pollution and environmental health disparities. Environmental health disparities exist when communities exposed to a combination of poor environmental quality and social inequities have more sickness and disease than wealthier, less polluted communities. Many of these environmental health problems and disparities are…
Navigating Climate Disinfo in the Digital Age
The origins of climate change disinformation that contradicts the science behind the climate crisis can be traced back to fossil fuel companies and their decades of climate denial campaigning. That’s just one of many findings from a recently published study by Boston University’s Climate Disinformation Initiative, “Data and Misinformation in an Era of Sustainability and…
Climate Impact on Household Finances – Report from the US Treasury
Black and Latine adults are less able to pay their bills and are more impacted by climate disasters. Living paycheck to paycheck makes any disruptions caused by climate change far more devastating. Under President Biden’s Executive Orders, the US Treasury Department was required to “analyze and understand the impact of climate change on the financial…
Tea Time with Just Solutions: Fostering Learning & Sharing with Environmental Justice Advocates
In the relentless pursuit of environmental justice, dedicated leaders and practitioners often find themselves expending a tremendous amount of energy, mental fortitude, and personal capacity. The passionate individuals at the forefront of this crucial movement frequently encounter exhaustion, frustration, and the daunting challenges of an ever-expanding scope of issues. Amidst the continuous demands, it is…
National Environmental Policy Act: Recommendations for environmental justice
Earlier this summer, the federal Council for Environmental Quality (CEQ) proposed changes to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) that could get us closer to analyzing climate change impacts, addressing the concerns of environmental justice communities, and uplifting the role of Tribal governments. Most notable are revisions that reinstate many of NEPA’s principles and functions…
LGBTQ History Month: Intersectionality with Climate Justice
October is LGBTQ History Month. As a queer and nonbinary person from the South, honoring and preserving my community’s history is more important than ever as attempts to suppress our civil rights increase in places like Florida, which I call home. While many people are perhaps more familiar with Pride Month in June with parades…
Community-Created Solutions to Climate Vulnerability and Resilience: A Case Study in Six Frontline Communities
Using a case study approach in six frontline communities, Just Solutions has developed a Prioritizing Frontline Communities Framework that assesses the “pre-existing” economic, health, and infrastructure conditions that affect the capacity of these communities to cope with, prepare for, and respond to climate change and to participate equitably in the transition to a clean energy…
