Historic Climate Legislation; A Huge Game Changer for Black America
Consensus on climate provisions marks a historic step in the right direction for tackling the climate crisis that impacts Black people and people of color at disproportionate rates, the NAACP noted following Senate passage of the Inflation Reduction Act.
In a statement, the NAACP said Black and Brown communities have higher exposure to carbon emissions and all emission sectors.
Therefore, financial investment in climate issues and plans to reduce toxic emissions would be a vital step toward climate justice, the civil rights organization stated.
As the U.S. House of Representatives takes up the more than $700 billion economic package that includes healthcare, tax, and climate change, White House officials and climate justice activists said the bill would greatly benefit people of color.
“It puts the money with the mission. It’s a large amount of money, and the task in front of us is huge. ”
“This legislation gives lower-income families access to those things, and it will make resources available if you’re buying new or used electric vehicles. Also, the funds are now available for small businesses who might want to install electric charging stations.”
Zaidi said the legislation would successfully tackle problems associated with consumer costs. In addition, he said it would create family-sustaining wages and significantly reduce or eliminate pollution.
“Black and Brown communities tend to be where pollution is heaviest, and they are usually left out and left behind”
The bill includes a minimum 15% tax on most corporations that make more than $ 1 billion a year in profits and $369 billion for climate action – the largest investment in the issue in American history.
Overall, the bill will allow the U.S. to cut the nation’s carbon emissions by 40 percent in less than a decade.
““We don’t want to miss this opportunity,” Davis warned. “This is game-changing – transformational. We’re starting at ground zero, and we must grab it.””