Climate Power, a strategic communications organization focused on winning the politics of climate, is announcing the launch of its Black Engagement Program, dedicated to advancing conversations about the disproportionate impacts of climate change on Black communities nationwide.
A key part of the campaign will be educating Black voters about the stark contrast between Vice President Kamala Harris’ historic climate record that holds Big Oil accountable and Trump’s dangerous pro-polluter Big Oil agenda.
For the past four years, Climate Power has worked to lead the climate narrative, protect climate progress, and build the political will for more climate action. This work has meant reaching key groups most impacted by the climate crisis, like Black and Latino voters via research, polling, earned and paid media campaigns.
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With an investment of over $10 million, Climate Power’s Black Engagement Program is running a culturally competent and impactful earned and paid media political communications campaign that seeks to ensure climate change and clean energy issues become a key driver for Black voters this November.
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“Climate change extends beyond the environment and touches nearly every part of Black life in America,” said Markeya Thomas, Climate Power’s senior advisor for Black Engagement. “Black communities have long been the bearers of environmental degradation and climate impacts, and we know that Vice President Kamala Harris has a history of delivering on climate progress, from creating environmental justice taskforces to taking on Big Oil for polluting our communities, and casting the deciding vote for the Biden-Harris administration’s clean energy plan.
Another four years of Trump would be a disaster for our climate, especially for communities like ours.
Markeya Thomas
“We want to set the record straight. The only way we can protect the climate progress that’s cleaning our air and water and fighting the climate crisis is by stepping up. Another four years of Trump would be a disaster for our climate, especially for communities like ours.”
Dr. Jawanza Clark, who believes the ancient perspectives and wisdom of Black/African and Indigenous people regarding humanity’s relationships with the earth, should lead environmental justice efforts, would see Climate Power’s initiative as a good start, with much more work needed to be done.
“Two of the most vital issues confronting us, the problem of racial injustice and the ecological crisis, derive from the same source, the problem of whiteness, specifically white, Western culture,” said Clark, author of “Reclaiming Stolen Earth.” “We have to ask, if the same culture that got us into this problem of impending ecological destruction with a legacy of oppressing and marginalizing Black, Brown, and Red communities, can be trusted to get us out of this situation. Perhaps those oppressed communities have something to offer to the healing of the Earth.”
In the meantime, Climate Power seeks to ensure Blacks are voting for a presidential candidate in November with a proven record on climate issues. The good news: recent data suggests 62% of Black voters across battleground states consider climate change and clean energy to be important factors when voting for the next president. The challenge: amplifying the voices of Blacks on this topic.
Climate Power hopes to find or inspire more individuals like environmental justice reporter Maya Richard-Craven who has been on the front lines of this issue for years.
“Do you remember a time when Black folk weren’t affected by climate change? Probably not, considering that the climate crisis has been hurting us for decades,” said Richard-Craven. “We receive little to no support when it comes to receiving aid during a climate-related disaster. But Black folk can get in the fight for climate justice because climate change is affecting all of us.”
In addition to the Black Engagement Program, Climate Power launched Climate Power En Acción in 2023, an expansion of its political communications operation tailored specifically to Latinos. These initiatives reflect Climate Power’s unwavering dedication to building public support for strong climate policies and holding climate deniers and their oil and gas lobby allies accountable.
For more information on VP Harris’ climate record, visit [link].
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