Systemic injustices and corruption have become especially salient throughout the course of the COVID-19 pandemic. Public consciousness and civic action are soaring amidst record levels of unemployment, sensationalized video exposing the horrific realities of police brutality, and intensification of the climate crisis.

Scientists have come to an overwhelming consensus that climate change is caused by the emission of greenhouse gases from human activity, and high-level decision-makers across the globe are increasingly recognizing the climate crisis as a threat-multiplier. This term is intended to convey how the risks and hazards associated with climate change overlap with and exacerbate existing sociopolitical, economic, and human health issues.

Well stated by Rosemary DiCarlo, Head of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs for the United Nations (2018):

“The risks associated with climate-related disasters do not represent a scenario of some distant future. They are already a reality for millions of people around the globe – and they are not going away.”

Inherently oppressive policy mechanisms, such as redlining, have concentrated polluting infrastructure responsible for excessive emissions in Black, Latino, and Native American communities (1) (2) (3). While accelerating global warming and amplifying climate-related risks, pollution exposure increases racial and ethnic minority communities’ vulnerability to a number of developmental and chronic respiratory illnesses. Unsurprisingly, disproportionate exposure to pollution likewise contributes to the greater vulnerability of marginalized communities to contracting and dying from COVID-19.

A demonstrator addresses protesters in Harlem. [The Guardian/Flo Ngala]

Acknowledging the parallels between these intersecting crises, the Environment and Climate Change Subcommittee of the US House Committee on Energy and Commerce held a remote hearing on June 9, 2020 entitled Pollution and Pandemics: COVID-19’s Disproportionate Impact on Environmental Justice Communities.

Mustafa Santiago Ali, the Vice President of Environmental Justice, Climate, and Community Revitalization of the National Advocacy Center at the National Wildlife Federation was among the witnesses. In his testimony, Ali draws an unsettling parallel between deeply rooted systemic racism, the militarization of policing in the United States, and exposure to toxic air- and water-borne pollutants:

“Black communities are dealing with the systemic racism that has infected the policing in our communities that is literally choking us to death. The rolling back of environmental rules and regulations has us gasping for air due to the cumulative public health impacts from the burning of fossil fuels in our communities. Covid-19 continues to devastate black, brown and indigenous communities both in infections and deaths. When we say, “I Can’t Breathe” we literally can’t breathe.”

Jacqueline Patterson, Senior Director of the NAACP Environmental and Climate Justice Program, also highlighted the intersections between the current crises and expressed the need for an integrated approach for recovery in her testimony.

Frontline communities across the nation are actively seeking and testing their own interventions to recover and adapt in the face of the coronavirus pandemic, economic downturn, systemic inequality, and climate change. Community-led approaches acknowledge and build upon the distinct capacities and strengths of their neighborhoods, organizations, businesses, government institutions, and individuals’ identities to address social needs.

Rising sea levels threaten the Louisiana coastline where offshore drilling occurs. [Getty/Drew Angerer]

Amid historic protests against the injustices that have long oppressed Black Americans, President Trump signed an executive order to eliminate regulations used by and for the protection of frontline communities fronted with potentially harmful, federally-funded development projects.

Among the most significant environmental laws in the United States, the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) creates a pathways for citizens to partake in a thorough review process for federal actions. For example, state or local officials must complete an environmental review before federal funds may be allocated for any project they’d like to propose. Any American citizen can comment on the proposal and call attention to environmental impacts not previously accounted for by the responsible federal agency. It is required that this feedback be taken into account and acted upon before the project can receive approval for federal funding. This process enhances transparency, holds decision-makers more accountable to the American public, and sheds light upon alternatives with potential co-benefits not previously identified.

The NEPA review process is among a slate of environmental statutes and regulations weakened by President Trump’s recent executive order. This is significant—even more so in the context of the compounding crises burdening historically marginalized communities. NEPA is widely considered landmark legislation, representing a historic achievement in the face of development projects that generated detrimental consequences by exacerbating environmental injustices. Rather than being perceived as obstacles to recovery, thoughtful regulations merit consideration as instruments for ensuring that long-term value is derived from federally-funded projects.

As we navigate violently compounding crises, we must hold public officials accountable for the bigger-picture outcomes of their actions and demand that they prioritize the democratic participation of frontline communities.

REUSABLES

Keep a water bottle, cutlery set, coffee cup, and tote bag handy to avoid the most common single-use plastics on-the-go. This shouldn’t require for you to buy anything new. Get creative to make use of items already lying around your home!

• reduce your landfill contribution
• save time and money
• conserve energy
• elevate your personal wellness

MENDING AND UP-CYCLING

Explore online tutorials and browse crafting guides for inspiration to mend and up-cycle items that you already own. This should prevent you from needing to purchase as many new items!

• reduce your landfill contribution
• conserve energy and resources
• save time and money

RECYCLING

Search for your local waste hauler’s recycling guidelines to make sure you’re properly sorting and disposing of your waste.

• reduce your landfill contribution
• conserve energy and resources

GARDENING

Grow your own produce in your windowsill or yard. Try to avoid synthetic fertilizers and pesticides!

• reduce carbon pollution
• save money
• elevate your personal wellness

PLANT-BASED EATING

Replace animal products in your diet with whole grains, beans, legumes, produce, nuts and seeds. Engage the whole family with meatless Mondays!

• save money
• conserve energy and resources
• elevate your personal wellness

COMPOSTING

To start small with household scraps, check out this excellent guide! You may also have access to a neighborhood program with local drop-off locations, such as back2earth in Miami. Other municipalities may have larger community composting programs!

• reduce your landfill contribution
• reduce carbon pollution
  

LAUNDRY

Opt for the cold wash setting to save energy, and hang dry clothes when possible.

• conserve energy
• reduce carbon pollution
• save money
• extend the life of your clothes and linens

WATER USAGE

Turn off the tap when not in use, and aim to reduce the length of your showers. Try using a couple of your favorite songs as an engaging timer! Challenge yourself to finish before the songs end.

• conserve energy and resources
• save money

GETTING AROUND

Incorporate low-carbon alternatives to driving in your commute schedule. Walking, bicycling, public transportation (bus, train, subway, metrorail) or carpooling are all great options!

• save time and money
• reduce carbon pollution
• elevate your personal wellness

COMMUNITY

Attend events organized by like-minded individuals or community organizations. Bonus: keep your perspective informed by starting conversations with others whose values and actions differ from your own!

• elevate your personal wellness

SHOP LOCAL

Support organizations and small businesses with values that align with your own— every purchase you make is an investment in those individuals and their work, so choose wisely!

• conserve energy and resources

Decor

Plan your decorations with a fall harvest theme! Think gourds, pumpkins, leaves, branches, hay, and wicker baskets. If you don’t have any of these items on hand indoors, get some creative inspiration (and supplies) from outdoors! Autumn flora provide some of the most effortless, accessible decorations that can elevate the festivity of any space.

→ If you decide to carve jack-o-lanterns, save and roast the pumpkin seeds for some waste-diverting munchies!

→ If using edible food for indoor décor, re-purpose arrangements for a scrumptious meal after celebrating. You can whip up your very own take on a pumpkin-spiced latte, hearty seasonal scones, fall-inspired hummus, pumpkin and legume curry, or my personal favorite roasted side dish … the possibilities are endless!

→ Gourds used for outdoor décor can be composted after they’ve been enjoyed. The most sustainable way to discard inedible produce is to return those nutrients back to their source!

Giveaways

Each time a trick-or-treater knocks on your door, you can avoid the possibility of creating plastic pollution by offering candy packaged in recyclable single-serving cardboard boxes.

→  Although they may seem more sustainable, bulk candy or homemade sweets aren’t a good alternative because they could be unintentionally contaminated and are more likely to be discarded by your trick-or-treaters or their parents.

→  To divert any excess candy that you’re left with after the 31^st from becoming landfill waste, look into candy buyback programs like this one that partners with dentists to send festive treats to overseas troops.

→  There are many reasons why many people seek alternatives to the conventional Halloween candy giveaway. Distributing loads of individually-wrapped sugar-laden treats is not the best for our health or our environment. Instead, you could hand out something shaped erasers, colorful wood pencils, or reusable straws!

→  For a creative take on a healthier package-free treat, we are loving these clementines with little jack-o-lantern expressions drawn on the outsides!

Costumes

According to the National Retail Federation, Americans are projected to spend upwards of $8.8 billion this Halloween. That comes down to an expense of $80+ per person … all spent on costumes or decor used for only one night! We can reduce this truly frightening statistic by avoiding non-essential purchases and making more of the quality items that we already own.

→  Organize a costume swap with your friends, neighbors, or coworkers! Most families have a couple old costumes lingering in back of their closets that were only enjoyed for a couple of hours. There’s no need to add new costumes into the waste stream or take on that expense when you potentially have several at your disposal.

→ Rent a costume! This is a great way to get more for your penny while contributing to the circular economy. Local theaters often rent out parts of their collections as a fundraiser for this very reason.

→ Create the costume you never realized you had! That’s right – there’s plenty of transformative Halloween potential in the clothes and accessories you already own. Put together a monochromatic look and add some creative makeup or statement accessories.

→ If you had your heart set on a particular costume idea, you can certainly find some budget-friendly, sustainable pieces by shopping secondhand. Contrary to popular belief, thrifting is far less scary than it’s often made out to be! For some inspiration, check out our Director of Sustainable Fashion’s collaboration with Goodwill to create this werewolf look.

Emission of excessive heat-trapping greenhouse gases is the primary driving force exacerbating the progression of climate change today. Water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide and ozone gas possess the unique ability to absorb infrared radiation and re-radiate it back to Earth’s surface—producing a warming “greenhouse” effect. According to a report released by the Center for International Environmental Law earlier this year, greenhouse gas emissions from the lifecycle of plastics significantly threaten our ability to keep global temperature rise below 1.5°C. By 2050, plastic-related greenhouse gas emissions may surpass 56 gigatons—representing 10-13 percent of the remaining carbon budget.

When we think about the environmental effects of plastic, it’s easy to subconsciously focus on its contribution to our global waste footprint and potential to end up as marine debris. However, it is equally important to recognize that every piece of plastic is derived from fossil fuels and emits excess greenhouse gases throughout each phase of its lifecycle.

The Center for International Environmental Law’s report also labels plastic refinement among the most profound greenhouse gas emitting industries in the manufacturing sector. Initial refining, polymerization, and plasticization are tremendously energy-intensive and have contributed over 200 million tons of carbon dioxide to our Earth’s atmosphere annually.

According to Ivy Schlegel, a senior research specialist with Greenpeace USA; “despite the increasing scientific understanding of the irreversible damage plastic can cause to our environment and communities, plastic production is projected to dramatically increase in the coming years.”

In fact, developments in fracking techniques in the shale regions of Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia have fueled a natural gas boom that enables the growth of plastic production. The rise of cracker plants in the US Midwest poses a major environmental burden that will continue contributing to greenhouse gas emissions and disproportionately pose risks to the health and well-being of surrounding communities by exacerbating the development of atmospheric smog. This industrialization is primarily driven by the deeply vested public officials and corporate elites who strategically locate extractive operations in historically marginalized communities.

Once plastic products are used and discarded; they are sent to landfill, recycled, or incinerated—each of which also produces greenhouse gas emissions.

→ Sending plastic waste directly to landfill is believed to contribute the least greenhouse gases on an absolute level. However, this waste management strategy poses several threats to the water quality, air quality, and composition of surrounding soil.

→ Alternatively, recycling has a moderate emissions profile but displaces new virgin plastic on the market. This shortcut in the lifecycle of plastic products makes it an advantageous waste management strategy from an overall emissions perspective. Unfortunately, less than 10 percent of the millions of tons of plastic waste generated are effectively recycled in the U.S.

→ Nearly 60 percent of the plastic waste generated in the U.S. is incinerated. This process of burning plastics is linked to very high greenhouse gas emissions and the release of sulfur dioxide, highly toxic dioxins, furans, heavy metals, and potentially carcinogenic particulate matter. These impacts are disproportionately forced upon marginalized communities in “sacrifice zones” and the Global South.

“To solve the plastic pollution crisis, companies need to rethink how products are delivered to consumers and invest significantly in reusable and refillable delivery systems,” Schlegel said.

According to statistics from IHS Markit, international pressure from consumers who value sustainability is listed among the most concerning disruptors for the plastics industry. A significant reduction in the growing demand for plastics could impact refiners, in particular, who have already been faced with declining demand for transportation fuels due to increasing fuel efficiency standards. The power of the consumer is an important complement to regulation of the petrochemical value chain!

Are you ready to break free from plastic and take action to combat the climate crisis?

Survey the single-use plastics you are currently using. Your daily routine is likely loaded with plastic packaged products: shopping bags, beverage rings and bottled, sandwich and snack bags, clam-shell containers, styrofoam takeout boxes, and/or plastic cling wrap.

Recent studies have overwhelming proven that greenhouse gases are released during plastic production, and more recently that they continue to be released as they degrade. Use this information as motivation to seek out alternatives for the single-use plastics you identified in your life—shifting to reusable items, biodegradable packaging, or simply going package-free when possible!

Individual actions collectively have the power to motivate global change. Share this knowledge with your family, friends, and coworkers so that we may achieve a safer, cleaner, greener world for our lifetimes and future generations.