Black History and Environmental Justice are Inextricably Linked Dr. Bob Bullard, known as “the father of environmental justice”, has been sounding the alarm about environmental racism for decades with his groundbreaking research and data. He was the first to delve into environmental racism research, providing data about the propensity of pollution that burdens Black and Brown communities, and its correlation with health disparities. We encourage you to read this Scientific American article and this article in the Washington Informer to learn more about his life, research, and environmental justice advocacy. A personal reflection from Chief Segura As a young environmental

We are fortunate that CEMO is continuing its growth and building capacity in 2024. New CEMO staff additions include a Commission Executive Assistant joining mid-January to support the coordination of our Climate Emergency Mobilization Commission (CEMC) meetings, and the Deputy Heat Officer, expected to join by March 2024. We are also thankful for new Commissioners who are listed below in the CEMC updates section. Yet, with growth and change comes more responsibility. Speaking of change, the European Union's Copernicus Climate Change Service has provided its grim assessment regarding 2023 as Earth's hottest year on record. This is very sobering, even

Winter is a time to reflect on the work behind us, the climate justice work ahead of us, and the ever-increasing impacts of extreme heat on the City and beyond. CEMO had many firsts this calendar year, most of which are below in the CEMO 2023 Year in Review section. Every day is an opportunity to make a positive impact. Even if not directly related to climate solutions, we can rest assured that our collective efforts will make a difference to improve the conditions that concern us. We must re-learn how to coexist with one another and nature, as our

We all want climate action and solutions, yet most Climate Action Plans (CAPs) are not bringing the results needed to counter the climate crisis. The City of Los Angeles is currently considering how to create an actionable CAP that would bring results, accountability, and deliver equitable climate solutions for the entire region. We must learn from other cities’ and counties' mistakes. Local governments are failing to plan for measurable climate mitigation, and are thus not taking coordinated action to reduce GHGs and climate pollution, create equitable thriving communities, or meet State pollution targets. The form and functions of CAPs are

Climate Week in New York City was a whirlwind of dialogue and meetings with leaders from all over the world! Chief Segura was fortunate to meet with some of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Conference of the Parties (COP) Chairs from cities in Africa, Canada, and India. At the convening, organized by Resilience Rising, we provided ideas and input on how to create a more relevant and actionable IPCC report for cities across the globe. Tragically, New York City – our largest City in the country – flooded last week, with much underwater. These extreme weather events are