Carbon Pollution and Vulnerable Communities in the US Rom

Carbon Pollution and Vulnerable Communities in the US

Romy Sonenshtain

In 2017 Donald Trump announced the US withdrawal from the Paris Agreement on Climate Changes.

Donald Trump ignores the warnings from scientists regarding the impact of Climate Changes on our lives. He also reopened coal mines.

Trump’s actions affect globally but also locally, as the US most vulnerable communities - including black, Latino, Asian and low income white Americans are those mostly affected by carbon emissions. These communities live close to polluting power plants. Also, their cities are most affected by the storms caused by Climate Change - like these in Puerto Rico and Houston.

For example, in Puerto Rico the Commonwealth has warmed by more than one degree (F) since the mid 20th century, and the surrounding waters have warmed by nearly two degrees since 1901. The sea is rising about an inch every 15 years, and heavy rainstorms are becoming more severe. In the coming decades, rising temperatures are likely to increase storm damages and significantly harm coral reefs.

Communities of color and low-income communities already suffer much higher rates of asthma. Many of them live near polluting power plants, including 68% of blacks and nearly 40% of Latinos.

Trump’s administration could have prevented many deaths, heart attacks, asthma attacks and missed days of work. They should not have left the Paris Climate agreement, and they should promote the move to green energy (instead of burning fossil fuels).