Latino people and African Americans are disproportionately affected by climate change and are leading in climate awareness and concern, shows the American Climate Perspectives Survey released by ecoAmerica in April 2018.
The survey illustrates the intersectionality of race and environmental justice, referencing research by the NAACP that found that race is the principle indicator of the level of susceptibility to environmentally-caused negative health outcomes, as well as economic and pyschological impacts.
The research found that 94 percent of Latinos and 89 percent of African Americans are aware that climate change is happening, in comparison to 80 percent nationally and 75 percent of white Americans. Latinos, and especially African Americans, also have the highest overall participation in personally and civically supporting climate solutions.
The study reports:
These findings illustrate that Latinos and African Americans are ready, and required, to be engaged on climate. It is important to note, however, that since 2015, African American support for more coal production has risen 18-points, from 28% up to 46%. Advocacy organizations must be mindful of this increase in support for coal as we all work toward engaging a broad diversity of Americans to advance clean energy, clean vehicles, and other climate solutions.
Read the full survey here.
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