Professor Benjamin Discusses Climate Effect on Communities of Color at ABA Webinars

Professor Lisa Benjamin is participating in a series of webinars the ABA section on Civil Rights and Social Justice is doing during the month of February in honor of Black History Month. Benjamin will be a panelist on Climate Effects on Communities of Color February 26, a webinar which will examine the disparate impacts of climate change on communities of color in the United States.

“The Climate Crisis Executive Order contains significant provisions on environmental justice. The Executive Orders on ‘Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities’, and on ‘Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad’, are timely and important statements,” Benjamin states. “They signal that environmental, climate and racial justice will be priorities for the new administration and consequently for federal agencies. Addressing legacy issues of environmental injustice will be difficult, but is critical to addressing other systemic issues facing BIPOC communities such as health, economic and racial injustices. Climate and energy transitions should not entrench existing vulnerabilities, or further marginalize communities. There is much work to be done, but these Executive Orders provide important signals regarding the new administration’s approach to environmental, climate and racial justice.”

The ABA webinar series, The Challenges African Americans Face in the 20th Century, begins on February 3 and looks at the civil rights and social justice issues that African Americans still face today. Panels and experts will discuss a range of issues from environmental justice to economic equity, COVID-19 testing and vaccine distribution to racial disparities and criminal justice.

“I am so excited to be part of this webinar series,” stated Benjamin. “This series is timely and important. The new administration’s approaches to environmental, climate and racial justice will provide important signals not just to federal agencies, but also to state agencies, NGOs and industry. This should also lead to increased career opportunities for our students, particularly in areas such as climate, energy and environmental justice.”