Today, a majority of Americans support policies focused on fighting climate change, including incentives for reducing carbon emissions and transitioning to green energy. However, when looking at various solutions, it’s important to consider who’s most at risk to suffer the consequences of climate change, and ask why its effects aren’t being felt equally.
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The green revolution should be for everybody
Climate solutions to combat environmental injustice
Communities of color currently suffer disproportionate exposure to the effects of climate change. In fact, Black Americans are exposed to over 50% more pollution than they cause while white Americans are exposed to 17% less pollution than they cause. Increased health risks from pollution, coupled with a lack of environmental protection from governmental programs and policies, is a pattern known as environmental injustice. As the green revolution combats climate change, it’s important to prioritize solutions that benefit the most affected communities in order to remedy the history of environmental inequality.
Not only do marginalized communities have increased risk when it comes to climate change, they also have less access to current climate solutions. On average, low-income families have to spend a higher percentage of their income on energy than other households. One explanation for this is that many older buildings lack insulation or use older appliances. Making buildings energy efficient would lower the energy burden for those who need it most, which in turn lessens the likelihood of losing power. It also improves the indoor air quality and safety, lowering the exposure to harmful air pollutants. However, the costs associated with updating buildings for green energy can keep this solution from the communities who could benefit the most.
That’s where BlocPower steps in. This Black-founded, Brooklyn-based company is working on greening buildings in underserved communities. BlocPower doesn’t require building owners to invest money upfront, removing critical financial barriers. By updating the heating and cooling units in older buildings, they are increasing energy efficiency, while decreasing energy burdens. They’ve greened over 1,200 buildings, making green energy more accessible across the nation.
This is one way companies like Microsoft are working to center marginalized communities in the move to green energy. BlocPower’s efforts are made possible, in part, by an investment from Microsoft’s Climate Innovation Fund, a $1 billion impact investing initiative that helps fund innovative climate change solutions.
In addition to increasing access to climate solutions, there’s a need to increase access to green energy as a career. Solar energy is a booming industry and yet in 2020 Black workers made up less than 10% of the sector. Volt Energy Utility is a Black-owned, utility-scale solar energy development company focused on increasing diverse representation in the industry. This company has created Sharing the Power Foundation, a program that is committed to creating career development opportunities for underrepresented groups, particularly students from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). Microsoft is partnering with Volt Energy Utility on these efforts, as part of an agreement to supply Microsoft with 250 megawatts (MW) of utility-scale solar energy.
These efforts are all part of Microsoft’s commitment to be carbon negative by 2030 and help more underserved communities benefit from climate advancements too.