California, Texas and Florida are currently facing the most extreme weather and the devastating effects of climate change. California is in its fourth year of extreme drought; Texas recently saw record flooding and rain following record drought; and sea-level rise is already threatening Florida's infrastructure and freshwater supply.
These states have more in common than just climate change impacts: they also have the three largest Latino populations in the country. Half of Latinos also live in the country's most polluted cities and are three times more likely than non-Hispanic whites to die from asthma, a health issue exacerbated by climate change. The economic impacts related to climate change are equality alarming. In 2014, the California drought caused the loss of around 17,100 full- and part-time farming related jobs, jobs occupied for the most part by Latinos.
Thus, it is not surprising that Latinos are so concerned about climate change. Polling shows that 82 percent are concerned with climate change, and nine-in-ten believe it is important for the government to take action on climate change.
This is why President Obama's historical and ambitious Clean Power Plan is so important and relevant for Latinos. The Clean Power Plan sets the first-ever limits on dangerous carbon pollution from the nation's existing power plants. It will protect public health from dangerous carbon pollution, invest in clean, renewable energy development, and boost energy efficiency measures, creating jobs in the process.
Detractors are already saying that the plan will negatively impact the economy and low-income families. Yet recent trends and studies prove this is not true. The White House estimates the average American will save over $80 on their utility bill by 2030. And states that are already transitioning to clean energy are seeing the returns: in California, for example, an energy advisory firm estimated that the average family saves $800 more on energy each year than it would without efficiency improvements made in the past two decades.
Furthermore, by helping reduce emissions here at home, the U.S. is showing the world we are serious about tackling this threat ahead of the global climate summit at the end of this year. The U.S., the largest historical emitter of greenhouse gasses, has a responsibility to act and in doing so will benefit the world, including countries in Latin America, who are suffering even more from the impacts of droughts, melting glaciers, and extreme weather.
As the Pope's Encyclical has highlighted, low-income and marginalized groups tend to be more affected by events such as extreme weather and climate change. Latinos not only happen to live in the areas of the U.S. most affected by these events, but many of them are also less able to economically withstand the impacts. The power plant rules are an important first step towards ameliorating these issues, and in the long term will help protect our children and our earth for future generations.
Albert S. Jacquez
Deputy Executive Director
National Council of La Raza Action Fund (NCLRAF)