Environmental Justice Scorecard 2015
Read our full Environmental Justice Scorecard 2015 here!
CEJA is proud to release our 3rd Environmental Justice Scorecard for the 2015 Legislative Session. This scorecard is the only one in the state to assess how well California’s elected officials supported actions to address environmental issues that impact low-income communities and communities of color.
2015 was a momentous year for the EJ movement and there is much to be done in order for the victories of this past year to lead to health and environmental improvements directly in our communities. With five ground-breaking bills passing (AB 693, AB 1288, AB 1071, SB 350, SB 673), the results of the legislative session are a testament to our movement’s growing power over the past several years.
Highlights of this year’s EJ Scorecard include:
- A closer look at the Asian Pacific Islander, Black, Latino Caucuses
- Analysis of overlap between CalEnviroScreen 2.0 and legislative districts
- New map showing overlap of Moderate Democrats with environmental justice communities
2015 was also a year when industry flexed its muscle. The oil lobby spent $11 million from July to September alone, fighting off ambitious attempts to reduce our state’s dependency on fossil fuels. Sadly, many Democrats joined industry instead of standing for measures that would have undoubtedly improved health for their constituents. See map on the left.
It is unacceptable for Moderate Democrats, many of whom represent predominantly people of color that are most impacted by climate and dirty energy, to hide behind concerns over equity and fail to take stands on measures that would undoubtedly improved the health and quality of life for their constituents.
Looking Ahead in 2016
The increasing reality is that for environmental legislation to be successful, it must include the issues that communities of color care about. From the floor debate to the committee hearings, the impact of a proposed bill on low-income communities and communities of color often took center stage in 2015 debates. People of color are the majority in California and we are showing, through our votes and voices in Sacramento and throughout the state, that our communities and our issues matter.
In 2016, we are building on the victories of the past year to fight for more environmental and health improvements in our communities:
- Generating new resources for environmental justice communities
- Community voices at the California Air Resources Board
- Protecting low-income communities and communities of color from hazardous waste
- Increasing the use of CalEnviroScreen 2.0 in state policy
- Transforming toxic hotspots into Healthy Hoods with equitable land use policy
Interested in hearing more from CEJA on the 2015 scorecard release and some of the key environmental justice issues for state policy in 2016?
To attend our legislative briefing in Sacramento, contact Quentin Foster: quentin@caleja.org
To call into our telepresser, contact Kay Cuajunco: kay@caleja.org
