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As new COVID-19 variants begin to take hold, one thing hasn’t changed during the past nearly three years of the pandemic. In ebbs and flows, I have witnessed how the pandemic rushes through the Latino community: among colleagues, family and friends. And the data are consistent with this observation. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, COVID-19 has sickened more Latinos than any other demographic and hospitalized and killed more Latino communities than any other group.
This situation is exacerbated when you consider that Latinos are less likely to have access to health care, and immigrants and persons with disabilities are less likely to receive stimulus packages and disaster assistance provided by the federal government.
This is not an isolated situation caused by a uniquely bad public health crisis. In fact, patterns of environmental injustice are found in many other aspects of the lives of the Latino community.. For example, Latino children are reported to be twice as likely to die of asthma than white children. Latinos also have the highest percentage of physically inactive adults, which impacts their immune systems, stress levels, and ability to respond to health threats.
The common thread behind this is environmental racism. This is a history of forced confiscation, redlining, and economic discrimination against people of color that have left cities and towns deeply segregated to this day. ) polluted industries, warehouses, highways, polluted air due to its close proximity to oil and gas extraction, 2) so-called natural gaps – lack of greenery. , An open space where families and groups can gather outdoors.
Every 30 seconds, a football field’s worth of nature is paved, infrastructure, housing sprawl, and oil and gas drilled in this country. This destruction of our natural areas is happening overwhelmingly in Latino, Black, Asian, and Indigenous communities. They are generally smaller and serve a much larger number of people than the parks they serve. staffed by people who do not or do not speak the language, wear uniforms that look more menacing than protective, and lack the maintenance and amenities necessary to ensure a thriving outdoor space for families to enjoy There is a possibility. .
A recent study found that a lack of community green space correlated with increased COVID-19 incidence in communities of color. These results demonstrate that nearby nature and accessible parks are not only fountains of biodiversity and natural climate solutions, but are equally necessary for public health and ending pandemics.
Reducing air pollution, including COVID-19, is a matter of life and death for communities of color. Studies have found that the virus that causes COVID-19 spreads more rapidly in areas with high levels of air pollution, where Latinos and other communities of color are more likely to live. Additionally, studies have established a direct link between exposure to air pollution and mortality from COVID-19.
The impact of COVID-19 is also related to climate change and energy. Oil and gas development is one of the reasons why natural disparities are so wide in our communities. Oil and gas development emits greenhouse gases that pollute the air and contribute to climate change. Climate change, in turn, will increase the likelihood of wildfires, storms, droughts, and extreme heat harming the homes, jobs, and health of Latinos. The climate crisis, natural disparities and pandemics are all intertwined. Air pollution and destruction from oil and gas drilling can accelerate the spread and severity of disease, and oil and gas can contribute to climate disasters and keep people out of their living environments. at home or in dangerous situations.
However, there is still hope on all fronts. Fortunately, the same policies that protect and restore nature and clean air in our communities are the same policies that will help address the consequences of this pandemic and mitigate the next. It is the same policy that deals with It’s clear that our communities need a just transition to closer nature and clean energy, not more pollutants. This includes the oversight and accountability of pollution sources such as methane and soot, the Biden administration’s America the Beautiful Initiative, new legislation for new investments in clean energy and natural regeneration (inflation reduction laws and infrastructure), and more. It can be achieved through various tools. Investment and Employment Law.
Addressing the climate crisis, this health crisis and environmental injustice are all part of the same struggle. If we pay attention and put equity and the experiences of communities of color at the heart of our environmental policies, they can all be part of the same solution.
Shana Edberg Director of Conservation Programs. Hispanic Access Foundation.
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