Climate Equity and Environmental Justice
Climate Equity and Environmental Justice
Environmental Policy
Since its inception in 2011, CCAC has engaged in multiple arenas of Environmental, Social, and Climate Justice policy and advocacy. CCAC has developed programs that educate and support disadvantaged communities by both advocating for local air pollution and climate-related issues and help directly mitigate the health impacts of air pollution and climate change. CCAC works to ensure residents of low income and disadvantaged communities in the SJV have access to incentives and services that improve health and significantly reduce their carbon and air pollution footprints. CCAC’s policy and advocacy efforts include working on California’s AB32 mandated Greenhouse Gas Scoping Plan revisions since 2011, serving on various committees at DHCS, CEC, CARB and the SJVAPCD, along with a number of other efforts that ensure equity is included in policies and regulations that impact all Californians but specifically protect resident in low-income and frontline communities
Community Emissions Reduction Plans
Local Steering Committees, often referred to as L-CSCs, are grassroots community gatherings where active participation comes from local residents and various stakeholders. These meetings serve as crucial platforms for discussing a range of environmental concerns, with a primary focus on addressing air pollution and providing resources for asthma remediation. L-CSCs delve into the complexities of local pollution sources and explore strategies for their mitigation. One significant outcome of these meetings is the creation of Local Carbon Emission Reduction Plans, or L-CERPs. These plans are meticulously crafted by the very residents who are affected by the pollution issues discussed in L-CSCs. L-CSCs serve as a forum for identifying and comprehensively understanding local sources of pollution, allowing the community to take the lead in this critical process. Once local sources of pollution are identified, CCAC steps in to assist in the formulation of L-CERPs. CCAC leverages its expertise and resources to develop a structured format for these reduction plans and collaborates with the community to determine effective mitigation strategies for addressing the identified sources of pollution. This collaborative approach empowers local communities to actively participate in and shape their environmental future.
