[courtesy of California Progress Report]

By J. Mijin Cha
Policy Specialist
Progressive States Network

Too often, the impact that policies and measures have on low-income and marginalized communities is considered only as an afterthought, if at all. Climate change policies are no exception.

While everyone will be impacted by the effect of climate change, the impacts will be distributed unequally. For example, temperatures are expected to increase across the country resulting in higher cooling costs, which more greatly affects poorer households. But the impacts go beyond just increased cooling costs. Higher temperatures will have a greater effect on those with poorer health and lack of access to hospitals and health care. People of color and low-income communities face more health care disparities, including less routine care and unequal access to quality care. As a result, these communities will doubly suffer from the effects of climate change.

[courtesy of The California Majority Report]

The Legislature's African American, Latino, and Asian caucuses gathered at a town hall meeting to decry disparities in health care. "The simple explanation for health care disparities is just plainracism," said Dr. Richard Williams, professor of medicine at UCLA.

The city of Ventura has pledged to reduce its reliance on gasoline and retrofit citybuildings to meet greater environmental standards. The City Councilwill hear a presentation on the Get Your Green On campaign tonight atCity Hall.

Issue activistsin Iowa are trailing presidential candidates to different events. Theactivists aim to gather attention to causes as varied as gay rights,global warming, and defense spending.

There's more...

Image courtesy of Sacbee.com

by RepHildaSolis [courtesy of Calitics - Front Page]