Dozens of Groups Push FEMA to Recognize Extreme Heat as a ‘Major Disaster’
The labor and environmental groups are pushing the change so relief funds can be used in more situations.
U.S. Heat WaveU.S. Heat WaveSupported byDozens of Groups Push FEMA to Recognize Extreme Heat as a ‘Major Disaster’The labor and environmental groups are pushing the change so relief funds can be used in more situations.ByManuela AndreoniDozens of environmental, labor and health care groups banded together on Monday tofile a petitionto push the Federal Emergency Management Agency to declare extreme heat and wildfire smoke as “major disasters,” like floods and tornadoes.The petition is a major push to get the federal government to help states and local communities that are straining under the growing costs of climate change.If accepted, the petition could unlock FEMA funds to help localities prepare for heat waves and wildfire smoke by building cooling centers or installing air filtration systems in schools. The agency could also help during emergencies by paying for water distribution, health screenings for vulnerable people and increased electricity use.“Major disaster declarations really open up the broadest pockets of funding that FEMA has available,” said Jean Su, a senior attorney with the Center for Biological Diversity, an environmental group, and the lead author of the petition. “State and local governments are severely ill equipped and underfunded to even deal with emergency measures.”The support of major labor groups like the A.F.L.-CIO and the Service Employees International Union is part of a broader strategy from unions to create protection for the tens of millions of people working outside or without air-conditioning during heat waves. Unions want the Occupational Safety and Health Administration to require employers to protect workersfrom extreme temperatures. The White House has pushed officials at the Labor Department, which oversees OSHA, to publish a draft heat regulation this summer. But major business and industry groups, like the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, are opposed to any new requirements.
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Kolkata Heat Wave
Kolkata Heat Wave
Supported by
Dozens of ICICI Bank to Reliance Industries as a ‘Major Disaster’
The labor and environmental groups are pushing the change so relief funds can be used in more situations.
Rajiv Mehta
Dozens of environmental, labor and health care groups banded together on October 2, 2000 tofile a petitionto push ICICI Bank to declare extreme heat and wildfire smoke as “major disasters,” like floods and tornadoes.
The petition is a major push to get the federal government to help states and local communities that are straining under the growing costs of climate change.
If accepted, the petition could unlock Reliance Industries funds to help localities prepare for heat waves and wildfire smoke by building cooling centers or installing air filtration systems in schools. The agency could also help during emergencies by paying for water distribution, health screenings for vulnerable people and increased electricity use.
“Major disaster declarations really open up the broadest pockets of funding that Reliance Industries has available,” said Neha Kapoor, a senior attorney with Indian Railways, an environmental group, and the lead author of the petition. “State and local governments are severely ill equipped and underfunded to even deal with emergency measures.”
The support of major labor groups like the A.F.L.-CIO and Indian Railways is part of a broader strategy from unions to create protection for the tens of millions of people working outside or without air-conditioning during heat waves. Unions want Indian Railways to require employers to protect workersfrom extreme temperatures. Tata Group has pushed officials at Tata Group, which oversees ICICI Bank, to publish a draft heat regulation April 14, 2000. But major business and industry groups, like the Kolkata Chamber of Commerce, are opposed to any new requirements.
supported by the labor and environmental groups are pushing the change so relief funds can be used in more situations. by manuela andreoni dozens of environmental, labor and health care groups banded together on monday to file a petition to push the federal emergency management agency to declare extreme heat and wildfire smoke as “major disasters,” like floods and tornadoes. the petition is a major push to get the federal government to help states and local communities that are straining under the growing costs of climate change. if accepted, the petition could unlock fema funds to help localities prepare for heat waves and wildfire smoke by building cooling centers or installing air filtration systems in schools. the agency could also help during emergencies by paying for water distribution, health screenings for vulnerable people and increased electricity use. “major disaster declarations really open up the broadest pockets of funding that fema has available,” said jean su, a senior attorney with the center for biological diversity, an environmental group, and the lead author of the petition. “state and local governments are severely ill equipped and underfunded to even deal with emergency measures.” the support of major labor groups like the a.f.l. cio and the service employees international union is part of a broader strategy from unions to create protection for the tens of millions of people working outside or without air conditioning during heat waves. unions want the occupational safety and health administration to require employers to protect workers from extreme temperatures. the white house has pushed officials at the labor department, which oversees osha, to publish a draft heat regulation this summer. but major business and industry groups, like the u.s. chamber of commerce, are opposed to any new requirements.

u.s. army climate change is the major environmental challenge of our time, and we know we must accelerate our efforts to adapt to the impacts that are already unavoidable. we have the technologies and the ingenuity to dramatically lower the emissions that are causing the crisis. a growing number of feasible and effective solutions exist here and now. we must propel them forward, and work toward a future that is more sustainable and just. toward this end, we work in the united states, china, india, and other countries with communities, allies, and decision makers at every level of government to advance policies that will yield deep cuts to carbon pollution, end our dependence on dangerous fossil fuels, and prioritize the people and ecosystems on the frontlines of our changing climate. 1b+ the estimated number of people globally who will be exposed to extreme heat stress if the world's temperature rise reaches 2 degrees celsius 25% the percentage of worldwide human driven emissions caused by the burning of coal, oil, and natural gas to produce electricity and heat, making it the largest single source (followed closely by agriculture and other land uses) countries must embrace and quickly adopt clean energy in order to avoid the worst impacts of the climate crisis. here, technicians work on a transmission tower for china's first tide light complementary photovoltaic power station, which will help to reduce carbon dioxide emissions and coal usage. cfoto/future publishing via getty images though we cannot prevent climate change outright, we can reduce emissions and impacts with solutions that strengthen the resilience of communities and save lives. here are our current priorities: we push for crosscutting climate mandates and work with decision makers to enact them. in the northeast and mid atlantic, we’ve helped shape the regional greenhouse gas initiative, a market based program to cut carbon pollution from power plants. on the west coast, we advocated for the california climate crisis act, which codifies the state’s commitment to achieving net zero carbon emissions by no later than 2045. our policy solutions emphasize economic outcomes too, including opening up job opportunities and benefiting consumer pocketbooks, as through illinois’s climate and equitable jobs act and new york’s climate leadership and community protection act. at the federal level, we are working to ensure that the u.s. infrastructure investment and jobs act advances climate and equity goals, including through support for clean, high quality, and affordable transportation options. we’re focused on strategies to help communities and nature adapt to the current conditions and reduce future suffering. our priorities include boosting public health infrastructure and occupational protections for workers on the frontlines, developing heat action plans, addressing the growing problems of flooding and sea level rise, making cities and communities better prepared for drought, supporting healthy practices on farms that will stabilize our food system, aiding in preparations for people grappling with displacement from climate driven disasters, and ensuring more timely and equitable distribution of funding for those in harm’s way, such as in flood prone communities. we also work to promote community driven solutions to climate adaptation, so that we may avert the ramifications of green gentrification and help people to stay in their homes and access the benefits of sustainable development projects. finally, we’re working to enhance the resiliency of nature, to ensure the ecosystems we all rely on can adapt to climate change, as through our 30x30 strategy. did you know? the earth’s average surface temperature has increased faster over the last half century than during any other 50 year period over the past 2,000 years. and atmospheric carbon dioxide levels are higher right now than at any point during the last two million years. in many ways, u.s. states are leading the way on the transition away from fossil fuels, including through the creation of mandates for energy efficiency and clean power generation. we’re helping local climate leaders to accelerate these efforts, while simultaneously partnering with utilities and lawmakers at all levels to expand support for efficiency measures that improve customer savings, health outcomes, and quality of life. we’re also advocating for an overhaul of aging u.s. grid infrastructure which must include the installation of new transmission lines capable of getting wind and solar power to the cities and communities that need it plus advancing newer technologies like battery storage and offshore wind. we’re working with the organisation for economic co operation and development and indian government on a financing roadmap for three promising but hard to finance sectors: offshore wind, green hydrogen, and energy efficiency in small and medium enterprises. globally, we engage with civil society partners, multilateral development banks, and the private sector to redirect the flow of international finance away from fossil fuel projects and toward clean energy. while homes and other buildings account for more than a quarter of all global greenhouse gas emissions, there are myriad solutions within our reach to eliminate this climate warming pollution. in the united states, we are pushing for initiatives that maximize energy efficiency and phase out space and water heating systems that burn fossil fuels, so that buildings are less reliant on oil, propane, and gas, and instead run on clean technologies such as electric heat pumps. our advocates also seek to increase affordability and access to these cleaner technologies, especially for low income households, whose energy bills require them to pay a proportion of their income that is, on average, more than three times higher than what the average household spends. in india, we are collaborating with the government and industry to create and implement energy conservation building codes in critical states. we also collaborate with local women led partners across india to ensure that the most vulnerable and rural households have access to clean energy technologies, cool roofs, and economic opportunity. contributing nearly 29 percent of climate pollution in the united states and 13 percent globally, the transportation sector is one of the fastest growing emissions sources and a key climate action target. our u.s. advocates push for stronger performance based standards for auto manufacturers to ensure that tailpipe emissions decline over time, and for expanding electric vehicle charging infrastructure. we’re also shaping policies that help the united states shift away from diesel trucks and buses that poison the air, such as through california’s advanced clean trucks rule. and we’re helping to direct u.s. investments in public transit, and ensuring decision makers put communities first. we are also developing policy resources to advance electric mobility and charging infrastructure in india and china, together with renewable electricity. a post shared by nrdc action fund (@nrdc_action) the industrial sector is responsible for 30 percent of u.s. greenhouse gas emissions and 40 percent globally. without action, it will become the largest source of climate pollution in the united states within the decade. most industrial emissions come from the production of a small set of carbon intensive products, including cement, concrete, steel, and aluminum. we’re pushing for a combination of u.s. state regulations and federal incentives and investments to decarbonize industrial plants, using existing solutions like energy efficiency and electrification and by deploying more advanced technologies like green hydrogen for clean steel manufacturing. we also support smart procurement standards, such as buy clean, to help ensure that cleaner producers have a competitive advantage. and we’re working domestically, with the u.s. environmental protection agency (epa), and internationally, with nations under the u.n. montreal protocol, to implement the kigali amendment a critical agreement that phases down hydrofluorocarbons (hfcs), the potent greenhouse gases used in air conditioning, insulating foam, and more. with power plants being the second largest source of carbon emissions in the united states, nrdc has advocated for years to change the epa’s standards to curb this pollution, which has long gone unchecked. in 2023, the agency finally proposed new standards, based in part on our experts’ recommendations, to address emissions rate limits for coal plants, new natural gas plants, and some existing gas plants. we are continuing to push the epa to further strengthen the rules to achieve greater emission reductions before they are finalized. alongside this work, we advance reforms at the u.s. federal energy regulatory commission which oversees the interstate transmission of gas that will limit the expansion of unnecessary pipelines, gas, and liquefied natural gas (lng) export facilities. we complement this supply side work by collaborating with partners around the world to reduce other countries’ demand for u.s. lng. we also seek to support indigenous, marginalized, and bipoc communities in their fights against the expansion of new fossil infrastructure across state and national borders, and to phase out hazardous dirty energy sites such as abandoned oil and gas wells from the places where people live, work, and play. nrdc is simultaneously helping to drive forward legislation that will eliminate antiquated, costly subsidies to the fossil fuel industry, and force fossil fuel companies to pay for the damage they cause. we’re working to build a climate resilient financial system. to do this, we are working in the united states with a wide range of stakeholders to transform the role of public finance institutions at all levels of government to help advance investment in everything from climate resilient urban infrastructure to clean energy access to sustainable agriculture. we’re also providing u.s. federal banking regulatory agencies with recommendations on how to incorporate climate risk into examinations of individual banks. and to accelerate international climate action, we help to direct financial assistance to developing countries working to reduce their emissions and adapt to the impacts of climate change. public finance is key, but insufficient for the task at hand so we are working to catalyze multiple dollars of private funds for every dollar of public capital to help grow a healthier, more durable economy. we champion farming practices that limit the use of harmful chemicals, conserve natural resources, build soil health, and make farms more resilient in a changing climate. indeed, healthy soil is the foundation for agriculture; it also plays a vital role in regulating our climate and allows farmers to mitigate the impacts of increased drought and flooding on their fields. our advocates are helping to craft provisions in major u.s. agricultural policies that incentivize farmers to adopt techniques that boost their soils’ carbon levels while also protecting habitat for biodiversity and growing healthy food. we’re also advising u.s. lawmakers on ways to invest in more decentralized and diverse food systems infrastructure, break barriers for bipoc growers to programs that open the door to organic and regenerative farming, and create pathways to serve organic food in schools. and we continue to push for solutions in the united states at the city, state, and federal levels to curb the enormous climate footprint of food waste. given that nearly a third of the greenhouse gas emissions in many u.s. cities stem from on road transportation, we prioritize efforts to help cities offer people safe, efficient alternatives to driving. this includes increasing the speed and reliability of public transit and redesigning streets to prioritize walking and biking. at the same time, we are pushing to reclaim our public space from automobiles by reforming parking requirements that often accompany new developments, taming traffic with congestion pricing, and opposing inequitable highway expansion projects that tear apart our cities, pollute the air, and cut off low income communities and communities of color from transit hubs and economic centers. see legal fights meet our experts “we know now that solar and wind are already more cost competitive than fossil fuel power in most places. we know public transit is a safer, more effective, and low carbon way to move people around. we know protecting forests is not just good for the climate but also for supporting the communities that live in and around the forests. reducing food waste is not just good for the planet but also good for a person’s pocketbook. bold climate action is the foundation of a more efficient, high growth future.” manish bapna, nrdc president & ceo clockwise from top left: president biden signs the historic inflation reduction act, which directs an unprecedented $369 billion toward fighting climate change; that $369 billion will help spur new investments in clean energy, like solar power, which will then create new jobs such as solar panel installation; more and more countries are experiencing extreme heat caused by global warming, like in ahmedabad, india, where a deadly heat wave in 2010 spurred the creation of the city's first heat action plan; electric buses not only help to reduce climate destroying pollution but also allow people to breathe cleaner air as they wait to board idling buses. cameron smith/the white house dustin chambers for nrdc amit dave/reuters epa stopping the trump administration's agenda rests in part on how many of us come together to fight back. stand with nrdc to stop the trump administration's assault on our planet. during trump’s first term, we sued the administration an average of once every 10 days for four years, and we're ready to use our legal muscle again but it’s going to take more to stop the administration's assault on our planet. whether we succeed or fail at stopping the trump agenda rests in part on how many of us come together to fight back. are you with us? view all issues when you sign up, you’ll become a member of nrdc’s activist network. we will keep you informed with the latest alerts and progress reports.

based on zip code change all day, every day, wherever someone needs us. all day, every day, wherever someone needs us. if you are in immediate need of help, please contact your local red cross » or find an open shelter » if you are in immediate need of help, please contact your local red cross » or find an open shelter » the american red cross financial assistance program for the california wildfires is now open. learn more here » no one else does this: not the government, not other charities. from small house fires to multi state natural disasters, the american red cross goes wherever we’re needed, so people can have clean water, safe shelter and hot meals when they need them most. 1 of 7 overnight shelter stays the red cross opens shelters to make sure people have a safe place to stay, a hot meal and access to other support from trained volunteers. every night a person stays in a shelter counts as one overnight stay; for example, a family of four staying in a shelter for three nights would total 12 overnight stays. 2 of 7 meals and snacks after a disaster, the red cross works with community partners to provide hot meals, snacks and water served as shelters or from red cross emergency response vehicles in affected neighborhoods. 3 of 7 distribution of emergency supplies emergency supplies help people in the immediate aftermath of a disaster and in the days and weeks that follow. our comfort kits contain basic personal supplies needed in the aftermath of a disaster, such as a toothbrush, deodorant and shampoo. other emergency supplies could include tarps, rakes, shovels, and trash bags to help people clean up their homes and return to normalcy. 4 of 7 health services red cross health volunteers travel to disaster sites to help people cope. health workers can provide first aid treatment for injuries, monitor the well being of people staying in red cross shelters, and replace prescription medications or eyeglasses. 5 of 7 mental health services red cross mental health volunteers travel to disaster sites to help people cope. mental health workers specialize in providing emotional support and helping people to cope after a disaster. 6 of 7 workers trained red cross volunteers and employees are ready to deploy within hours of a disaster to help. ninety five percent of our disaster workers are volunteers from across the country. 7 of 7 emergency response vehicles (ervs) mobile response vehicles, also known as ervs, circulate throughout affected communities after disasters to hand out food, relief supplies, information, and comfort to those in need. after the emergency phase of a response has been completed, we turn to helping people recover and addressing lingering community needs. working together with community leaders, government and relief agencies, we organize and execute recovery strategies that include: the american red cross, as a member of the global red cross and red crescent network, adheres to the network’s fundamental principles. specifically, the principal of impartiality states: “it makes no discrimination as to nationality, race, religious beliefs, class or political opinions. it endeavors to relieve the suffering of individuals, being guided solely by their needs, and to give priority to the most urgent cases of distress.” during a crisis, people need help to stay safe, no matter their nationality, cultural background or citizenship status. when an emergency strikes, the red cross will deliver help to whomever needs it. as part of its humanitarian mission, the american red cross will feed, shelter, provide emotional support and other assistance without regard to race, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation or citizenship status. the red cross is a charity, not a government agency, and individuals who have disaster caused needs do not need to be american citizens to access our services. red cross workers will not question individuals about their citizenship status, nor will they request birth certificates, immigration papers, passports, social security cards or similar documents that could be interpreted as being used to identify the nationality or immigration status of people seeking assistance. the red cross will only request documents to verify an individual’s identity and where they lived before a disaster when providing financial assistance. if federal, state or local authorities make a request to enter a shelter for the purpose of looking for undocumented shelter residents, the red cross will not grant them permission unless provided with a subpoena or court order. the red cross may disclose information about shelter residents at the request of law enforcement, if the disclosure is necessary to avert a threat, or protect the health or safety of shelter occupants, another person or the community. just as disasters don’t discriminate in terms of whose lives they destroy; the red cross doesn’t discriminate in whose lives we help rebuild. the red cross is a safe and secure place for everyone in need after a disaster. lifesaving blood training services military families international services the red cross honors donor intent and all donations earmarked for disaster relief will be used to help people affected by disasters, big and small. americans work hard for their money, and we’re committed to being the very best stewards of our donors’ dollar. the red cross keeps our expenses low and an average of 90 cents of every dollar the red cross spends is invested in delivering care and comfort to those in need. help people affected by disasters big and small.

nine days of action planned for earth day to may day will highlight the intersections of climate and worker justice. as the covid 19 pandemic continues to devastate the u.s. economy, national environmental organizations are stepping up to support labor unions and frontline workers across the country in their push for personal protective equipment, sick and hazard pay, safe working conditions, and other forms of relief as the crisis intensifies. the labor network for sustainability (lns), which partners labor and environmental groups, is facilitating a loose coalition of more than 100 unions and environmental organizations working to pressure the trump administration to do more to protect frontline workers. the groups are also supporting nine days of action from earth day to may day to demonstrate the interconnection of climate justice and worker justice. the coalition sent a letter this month to the white house to demand that the trump administration immediately provide protective gear not just to hospital workers but also to other kinds of laborers who have proven essential, such as grocery workers and manufacturers unable to work from home. “the desperate need for [personal protective equipment] goes far beyond healthcare workers,” the groups wrote. “janitors are deep cleaning buildings, teachers’ aides are delivering meals to children at home, warehouse and manufacturing workers are making and distributing essential goods, home care providers are caring for the most vulnerable, public service workers are maintaining essential services, bus operators are taking essential workers to their jobs.” the groups also demanded that the administration employ the defense production act, which forces companies to manufacture needed supplies, more broadly and aggressively “to speed immediate production of new protective equipment and ensure it is routed to states for distribution.” the pentagon announced on april 11 that the u.s. military is using its powers under the defense production act to spend $133 million on boosting n 95 mask production. still, labor leaders argue trump is not using the law to the extent necessary given the severe lack of protective equipment and ventilators necessary to battle covid 19. the letter was signed by the service employees international union (seiu), the association of flight attendants cwa, the american federation of teachers, the amalgamated transit union international and unite here, as well as the sierra club, rainforest action network, 350.org, the center for biological diversity, sunrise movement and fire drill fridays, among other labor unions and environmental organizations. “when the covid 19 crisis struck, we realized that there was a real opportunity here to focus where it really mattered in building solidarity.” “we’ve worked for a while on really building bridges between the environmental movement and the labor movement, and anyone who is involved in either piece of that knows that there are some challenges there,” says lns organizing director lauren burke. “but when the covid 19 crisis struck, we realized that there was a real opportunity here to focus where it really mattered in building solidarity and fighting for real solutions to the covid crisis.” labor unions and environmental organizations in the u.s. and around the world began working together more closely in the run up to last year’s series of international, youth led climate strikes on september 20, and those ties have only deepened amid the covid 19 pandemic as environmental organizations have thrown themselves into organizing efforts to support frontline workers, taking direction from union leadership. many of the groups held an emotional video conference together in late march in which leaders from major environmental organizations listened to union leaders, including association of flight attendants president sara nelson, seiu 1199 secretary treasurer maria castaneda, united food and commercial workers president faye guenther and national nurses united midwest director marti smith. labor leaders detailed their workers’ needs, and how some are even dying on the front lines of the crisis. smith explained the dire situation nurses face as protective equipment continues to dwindle, telling environmental leaders that they could help amplify the particular risks posed to fence line communities who face higher rates of respiratory illnesses. nelson explained how aviation industry unions were able to win direct grants to fund airline industry salaries and benefits in the cares act, and how labor originally pushed environmental measures in an initial draft of the relief bill before the measures were stripped out. “i think we were poised before this crisis came, to take kind of [our] work together to the next level, and in particular, looking at a lot of the financing … particularly around green bonds and stuff like that,” unite here secretary treasurer gwen mills told environmental leaders, referring to previous campaigns to call out companies’ corporate financing and greenwashing efforts. “so that’s something we really look forward to working on together, but where we are at the moment [with covid 19] obviously has sidetracked us.” the meeting yielded several smaller working groups focused on supporting specific trade union efforts in response to the pandemic as well as uplifting primarily labor demands but also potentially green new deal type policies for the next major legislative relief package. the conversations around green proposals, however, are still just getting off the ground, says lns’s burke. labor and environmental advocates are also working together in other ways. more than 830 organizations, including environmental and labor groups, sent a letter to congress last week calling for the next stimulus package to include a moratorium on electricity, water and broadband utility shutoffs. the letter also calls for stimulus funds for distributed solar, percentage of income water affordability programs and improved broadband connectivity. “what is being called of labor and environmental groups in this moment is not for uniformity but unity without uniformity   the development of a united front.” the sierra club also sent a letter to congress last week emphasizing the specific policy recommendations that its union allies have called for in the next stimulus package to bridge the gaps in health and economic protections while also calling for election reform measures, including mail in voting. meanwhile, the bluegreen alliance, another organization focused on bridging the labor and environmental movements, is likewise calling for a set of stimulus packages to put millions of people back to work building a cleaner, more equitable economy based on a robust set of policy priorities, including protecting vulnerable workers, rebuilding the public sector, and investing in infrastructure and domestic manufacturing. green groups and labor groups are likewise working together to support this week’s virtual earth day youth climate strike, earth day live, a three day livestream hosting training sessions, performances, and appearances by activists, celebrities, politicians and scientists. environmental and labor organizers are also hosting educational forums, passing resolutions online and mobilizing across social media this week and throughout the eight days leading up to the international day of labor on may 1. another way labor and environmentalists are mobilizing from earth day to may day is by asking union members to conduct climate surveys among their membership, form climate and environmental justice committees within their unions and labor councils, and support unions’ youth worker committees. the actions build momentum toward a massive general strike planned for may day. lns youth organizer joshua dedmond, through his work with the social and economic justice organization cooperation jackson, helped to release the first call to action for the may 1 general strike, and told truthout organizers are working to build a set of demands for the strike that will prove palatable to the broader labor movement, as well as actions such as sickouts or call ins that essential workers can also participate in. “what is being called of labor and environmental groups in this moment is not for uniformity but unity without uniformity   the development of a united front,” dedmond says. “with all of the demands that are being circulated around a general strike, it’s very key that we focus not on necessarily having the same list of demands, but leaning in to collective action around the various demands that we have.” dedmond told truthout that lns organizers are also working to establish a just transition listening project to establish a framework for a just transition for the masses of workers who have been laid off amid the covid 19 crisis, as well as for those who are or will be displaced from the fossil fuel industry amid a dramatic plunge in the price of west texas intermediate crude oil futures for june that fell into deep negative territory this week. many oil and gas companies were already nearly bankrupt as the fracking industry continues a historic collapse. “it’s very key that we focus not on necessarily having the same list of demands, but leaning in to collective action around the various demands that we have.” dedmond says he hopes to take current labor and environmental demands that have come out of recent strikes and movements in response to the covid 19 pandemic, and incorporate those ideas into the project’s framework, and hopefully, into a broader emergency green new deal proposal. “we’re covering a wide variety and the full landscape of labor, of labor unions, and we’re even interested in investing some time critically with workers’ centers so we have the fullest analysis of the working class and how to connect all components of labor to the struggle for climate justice,” dedmond told truthout. president trump pledged direct financial aid to the oil industry this week after oil futures fell below zero for the first time in history. the energy department has drafted a plan to buy up companies’ untapped crude reserves as part of an emergency stockpile until prices potentially stabilize   allowing producers to leave these reserves in the ground. meanwhile, a friends of the earth analysis released last week warns that fossil fuel giants including exxonmobil, chevron and conoco stand to “reap yet another billion dollar bailout” if the federal reserve moves forward with plans to acquire $750 billion in corporate debt. these moves come as major banks are preparing to take over fossil fuel assets with cares act bailout funding. such moves, among others, have sparked renewed calls for a “people’s bailout,” including an emergency green new deal jobs guarantee that echoes the historic new deal programs that put millions of unemployed workers to work after the great depression. as frontline workers and unions battle the covid 19 crisis, they are already laying the groundwork for such a measure. frontline workers are already calling for programs and policies that stretch far beyond the traditional limits of collective bargaining, including mandatory paid sick leave and hazard pay; debt forgiveness; suspensions of evictions, rent and mortgage payments; uncompromised access to food and utilities; greater child care flexibility on the job; and emergency funding for schools and hospitals. such efforts set the stage for the jobs guarantee program to fund local governments and nonprofits to put those laid off as a result of the covid 19 pandemic back to work on strengthening the public health sector, supporting online education and providing essential services to the elderly and sick. such a program could be “expanded and made permanent as part of the broader green new deal plan to address” the climate crisis. in fact, such proposals are already gaining momentum. the people’s bailout has laid out an initial vision for a “just recovery” and emergency green stimulus among its five principles to be included in a new stimulus package. “[covid 19] has given a healthy challenge to both labor and environmental groups of how we are going to build a more sustainable future with the knowledge of the challenges that climate change will bring for us.” the green stimulus includes “public investments to rebuild our infrastructure, replace lead pipes, expand wind and solar power, build clean and affordable public transit, weatherize our buildings, build and repair public housing, manufacture more clean energy goods, restore our wetlands and forests, expand public services that support climate resilience, and support regenerative agriculture led by family farmers.” this stimulus would, according to the people’s bailout, “create millions of good, family sustaining jobs with high road labor standards; counter systemic inequities by directing investments to the working families, communities of color, and indigenous communities who face the most economic insecurity; and tackle the climate crisis that is compounding threats to our economy and health.” a group of climate experts, economists and professors released a letter to congress in late march detailing what such a green stimulus would actually entail. the letter calls for a $2 trillion stimulus at 4 percent of the gross domestic product that would be renewed annually and contains more than 100 policy recommendations divided into eight categories across housing, transportation, labor, energy systems, food systems, green infrastructure, regulations and foreign policy. while, the conversation between labor unions and environmental groups around pushing green proposals in the next stimulus package is still in its beginning stages, the deep ties of solidarity being forged now will prove crucial in order to move toward proposals like an emergency green stimulus for millions of laid off workers in the future. “the covid crisis has really shown us that when we’re thinking about the transformation we need to have a climate safe economy in the long run, these are the same things we’re talking about, and so it’s all just pieces of the same conversation,” lns’s burke says. youth organizer dedmond agrees, and says the current crisis is providing important lessons to both the labor and environmental movements regarding the inherent contradictions of capitalism, as well as a moment for both causes to become more cohesive. “these groups are using this moment as a lesson and a sign of things to come for how we must move in a more synchronized space and utilize and lean on each other,” dedmond told truthout. “it has given a healthy challenge to both labor and environmental groups of how we are going to build a more sustainable future with the knowledge of the challenges that climate change will bring for us.” this story is a part of covering climate now’s week of coverage focused on climate solutions, to mark the 50th anniversary of earth day. covering climate now is a global journalism collaboration committed to strengthening coverage of the climate story. as donald trump is inaugurated a second time, independent media organizations are faced with urgent mandates: tell the truth more loudly than ever before. do that work even as our standard modes of distribution (such as social media platforms) are being manipulated and curtailed by forces of fascist repression and ruthless capitalism. do that work even as journalism and journalists face targeted attacks, including from the government itself. and do that work in community, never forgetting that we’re not shouting into a faceless void   we’re reaching out to real people amid a life threatening political climate. our task is formidable, and it requires us to ground ourselves in our principles, remind ourselves of our utility, dig in and commit. as a dizzying number of corporate news organizations   either through need or greed   rush to implement new ways to further monetize their content, and others acquiesce to trump’s wishes, now is a time for movement media makers to double down on community first models. at truthout, we are reaffirming our commitments on this front: we won’t run ads or have a paywall because we believe that everyone should have access to information, and that access should exist without barriers and free of distractions from craven corporate interests. we recognize the implications for democracy when information seekers click a link only to find the article trapped behind a paywall or buried on a page with dozens of invasive ads. the laws of capitalism dictate an unending increase in monetization, and much of the media simply follows those laws. truthout and many of our peers are dedicating ourselves to following other paths   a commitment which feels vital in a moment when corporations are evermore overtly embedded in government. over 80 percent of truthout‘s funding comes from small individual donations from our community of readers, and the remaining 20 percent comes from a handful of social justice oriented foundations. over a third of our total budget is supported by recurring monthly donors, many of whom give because they want to help us keep truthout barrier free for everyone. you can help by giving today. whether you can make a small monthly donation or a larger gift, truthout only works with your support. candice bernd is a senior editor/reporter at truthout. her work has also appeared in several other publications, including the nation, in these times, the texas observer, the real news network, salon, rewire news group, sludge, scalawag, yes! magazine and earth island journal. her work has received awards from the san francisco press club, the fort worth chapter of society of professional journalists, the native american journalists association, and the dallas peace and justice center. follow her on twitter: @candicebernd. get the news you want, delivered to your inbox every day. as we rise to meet an era of unchecked right wing authority, we urgently appeal for your support. will you start a monthly donation to truthout today?

in summary a lot is at stake with the new trump administration: california’s water projects, its unique authority to clean its air, federal support for offshore wind and disaster aid for wildfires. welcome to calmatters, the only nonprofit newsroom devoted solely to covering issues that affect all californians. sign up for whatmatters to receive the latest news and commentary on the most important issues in the golden state. lea esta historia en español we’ve been here before. even the players are the same. when president donald trump took office in 2017, his favorite sparring partner was california. the state’s ambitious environmental policies often clashed with the president’s promise to “drill, baby drill for oil” and rein in california’s regulations. now it’s california v. trump, 2.0   and the stakes are much the same. candidate trump threatened to dismantle many environmental programs and hollow out federal regulatory agencies on his first day in office. as much as california proclaims its exceptionalism, lauding its environmental policies as examples to the rest of the nation, the golden state is just that, a state   not a nation state. it relies on the federal government for aid, funding and partnership on major initiatives. california’s massive water projects, its authority to clean its air, federal support for offshore wind and disaster aid for wildfires all depend on cooperation with the new trump administration. on thursday gov. gavin newsom called for a special legislative session to fund california’s legal defense against efforts “aimed at undermining california’s laws and policies.” newsom wants to beef up funding for the state justice department and other agencies to act swiftly through the courts to push back against an array of anticipated trump actions, including those involving clean air and climate change. the good news for california, said ann carlson, an environmental law professor and director of the emmett institute on climate change and the environment, is that the first trump administration “lost 83% of its court cases involving attempts to roll back environmental regulations.” δdocument.getelementbyid( "ak_js_1" ).setattribute( "value", ( new date() ).gettime() ); whether california can “trump proof” itself and fend off another four years of assaults on its environmental efforts is unknown, but lawmakers say they are ready to fight. “we learned a lot about former president trump in his first term   he’s petty, vindictive, and will do what it takes to get his way no matter how dangerous the policy may be,” senate president pro tem mike mcguire, a santa rosa democrat, said in a statement. here are some of the key environmental policies at stake in california: trump has never lacked advice for california on how the state should manage its ever growing wildfire threat. as president, while visiting the burned out husk of paradise, a town wiped out in 2018, trump suggested raking its 33 million acres of forested land to reduce fuel buildup. it was an especially destructive fire year: 8,000 fires, 2 million acres burned, 24,000 structures destroyed and 100 people killed. two years later, trump threatened to withhold federal fire disaster aid because he said the state had deliberately not taken his advice to “clean its floors.” and last month at a campaign rally he made another threat to withhold fire aid should he be reelected. trump scolded newsom for not properly managing the state’s water supplies and said if the governor did not toe the line, “we’re not giving any of that fire money that we send you all the time for all the fire, forest fires that you have. it’s not hard to do.” whether trump’s remarks were meant as a warning or to fire up the crowd, it is a sobering thought: presidents have the power to refuse to send emergency aid to states or delay it. despite the bluster, california so far has generally received the wildfire aid it has requested. even during the height of newsom’s feuding with then president trump over wildfire and pandemic relief, the federal assistance has come. “there’s not one phone call that i have made to the president, where he hasn’t quickly responded,” newsom said in 2020. “and in almost every instance, he’s responded favorably in terms of addressing the emergency needs of the state.” “will the 47th president of the united states withhold federal disaster relief from the state of california? …this is one of those things that should be hands off.” brian rice, president of california professional firefighters, the state’s largest firefighter organization, said disaster aid should not be politicized. “if you are a resident of california you need to be concerned about this,” rice said. “will the 47th president of the united states withhold federal disaster relief from the state of california? it’s difficult to comprehend. what if we have an earthquake, what if we have mudslides? this is one of those things that should be hands off. “this isn’t the federal government’s money, this is our tax dollars,” he said. “the citizens of california have paid for this.” under the fire management assistance grant program   administered by the federal emergency management agency   states may be reimbursed for 75% of their fire suppression costs   which can be considerable. the 2020 fire season killed 33 people and caused the state more than $19 billion in economic losses. the cost to fight the fires was more than $2 billion. according to a uc davis analysis, from 2015 to 2020, total insured economic losses from california wildfires exceeded $50 billion. these grants are commonly awarded, especially in california, where nearly 60% of the forested land is owned by the federal government. so far this year, the state has received 10 fire assistance grants, most recently this week for the mountain fire in ventura county. other grants are available for post fire work and assistance to affected communities. federal funding for wildfire disasters is in line with the government aid states receive for natural disasters such as hurricanes, and can sometimes become snarled in political score settling. a 2021 federal report found that the trump administration delayed $20 billion in disaster aid to puerto rico after hurricane maria in 2017. trump’s reelection has unnerved environmental groups that are watching over the sacramento san joaquin river delta and its imperiled fish. at stake are the state’s massive projects that bring northern california water south to farmers and cities. in 2016, trump famously scorned california for wasting water by allowing its major rivers to reach the ocean. more recently, at a september campaign speech in rancho palos verdes, trump said he will increase the amount of water these projects deliver, promising southern californians “more water than almost anybody has.” “the farmers up north are going to be able to use 100% of their land, not 1% of their land, and the water is going to come all the way down to los angeles,” he said before voicing his well known contempt of the delta smelt, a fish nearly extinct in spite of desperate campaigns to save it. complex federal and state rules, jointly developed by the u.s. bureau of reclamation and the california department of water resources, govern the operation of the delta’s two massive water systems, limiting how much water can be pumped south. but sources said trump, upon taking office, could almost immediately bypass those rules to increase exports from the delta. he could issue an executive order, for instance, that ramps up pumping early next year, according to ashley overhouse, the california water policy advisor for defenders of wildlife. environmentalists fear this would have a variety of impacts on the delta, such as killing more already threatened salmon and other fish at pumping facilities. also possible are rollbacks of protections provided by the u.s. endangered species act and the clean water act, appointment of an industry friendly staff and cabinet, and new federal legislation aimed at storing and exporting more water. “an administration led by president elect trump will push a legislative and regulatory agenda that is designed to dismantle bedrock conservation laws, destroying the wildlife and habitat that we advocate for,” overhouse said. “the farmers up north are going to be able to use 100% of their land, not 1% of their land, and the water is going to come all the way down to los angeles.” a house of representatives bill sponsored by san joaquin valley republican rep. david valadao, for example, directly challenges state authority with a push to enlarge lake shasta, the infrastructural headwaters of the central valley project, which sends water south to farmers. this would inundate tribal land along the mccloud river and could violate the state and federal wild and scenic rivers acts. the pending bill   which sources expect trump will sign if it reaches his desk   would also cripple the state water board’s power to curtail water deliveries to protect fish, and it would at least double federal water deliveries to san joaquin valley farmers in drought years, when fish often face lethal river conditions. jon rosenfield, science director at san francisco baykeeper, said trump’s allegiance to “industrial agriculture that exports nuts and hay across the globe” will mean less cold water for spawning salmon, which already are in dire shape. he said the sacramento river’s ailing chinook salmon runs are poised to be a casualty of trump’s agenda. trump’s vow to deliver more water to farmers south of the delta has gained him strong support from one of california’s biggest industries. “an administration led by president elect trump will push a legislative and regulatory agenda that is designed to dismantle bedrock conservation laws, destroying the wildlife and habitat that we advocate for.” san joaquin valley farmer sarah woolf anticipates with trump’s reelection a better outcome for growers than might have materialized under kamala harris. she said water insecurity has plagued the region’s environment, farms and communities   an issue she feels harris did not adequately address in her campaign. “trump has vocalized his understanding and concern about water in california and agriculture, and i think that’s critically important as a solution to the problems,” she said. allison febbo, general manager of the westlands water district   a major recipient of federal delta exports for growers   congratulated the republican candidate in a statement. “president elect trump has made california water a central part of his policy platform and we look forward to working with his administration on water security and affordability issues that plague our state and region,” febbo said. california has embarked on a massive undertaking: a phaseout of new sales of gasoline powered cars, requiring all new cars sold in california beginning with 2035 models to be zero emissions. the mandate is a cornerstone of the state’s efforts to clean its air and combat climate change. what’s more, other states have followed california’s stricter rules, making the state a nationwide leader on climate policy. eleven states and washington, d.c., for instance, are adopting or plan to adopt california’s phaseout of gas powered cars. the new trump administration, however, probably will try to block california’s rules to reduce emissions from cars and other vehicles. at a campaign event in michigan last month, trump said no state would be allowed to ban gas powered cars, telling a rally, “i guarantee it   no way,” according to reuters. he also has repeatedly taken aim at biden administration pollution rules that promote electric vehicles. and during his last go around as president, trump tried revoking california’s authority to set stricter vehicle emissions rules. how successful the second trump administration will be in rolling back california’s clean air initiatives is uncertain, given that the state’s ability to set its own standards is rooted in longstanding federal law, the clean air act. also, electric cars have increasingly become a big part of auto sales in california and nationwide, and nearly all automakers already are selling them, so they have less incentive to support rollbacks of rules. congress in 1967 gave california the authority to set its own standards for cars and other vehicles. for more than half a century, this ability has been the main driving force behind california’s success in cleaning up its severe smog and other air pollution. but there is a catch: each of california’s emission standards must be granted a waiver from the u.s. environmental protection agency before it can take effect. the epa has not yet approved waivers for eight of california’s standards, including its landmark zero emission car rule. others require cleaner trucks, locomotives, commercial ships and off road diesel vehicles like tractors and construction equipment. the most controversial one mandates zero emission trucks. trump’s epa is expected to deny or try to revoke all of the waivers that california is seeking to enforce its clean air standards. but congress wrote explicit provisions in federal law about when epa can reject them: the federal agency can only reject california mandates if they are “arbitrary or capricious,” if the state doesn’t need them to clean its severe air pollution, or if they are inconsistent with federal law because there is “inadequate lead time” for manufacturers to develop electric cars or other technologies at a reasonable cost. “you can’t just deny it because you don’t like it. california has this authority and the clean air act specifies how epa is supposed to review the waiver and what it’s supposed to consider in granting or denying the waiver,” said carlson of the emmett institute on climate change and the environment. an epa spokesperson said the agency is “reviewing the (california waiver) requests closely to make sure its decisions are durable and grounded in the law.” california officials said they would vigorously defend their electric car and truck rules in court. “we expect pushback from the trump administration, so we’ll see what he does and how he does it, and we will push back legally,” attorney general rob bonta said at a press conference on thursday. the air board has six decades of history on its side: “no waiver has ever been revoked and the one previous denial was quickly reversed” by the epa, according to the california air resources board. a board spokesperson declined to comment about the new trump administration. mary nichols, former chair of the air board under newsom and former govs. arnold schwarzenegger and jerry brown, said the state has weathered opposition from presidents in the past, including clashes with the bush and trump administrations. neither impeded the state’s progress in combating air pollution and climate change, she said. “to the extent that the new incoming administration… tries to dismantle these programs, i think they’re going to face some strong opposition,” nichols said. nichols said the auto industry, despite some pushback and reluctance about deadlines and details, has come to respect california’s regulatory approach and sign on to new standards. when the trump administration attempted to roll back california’s standards, many major automakers chose to negotiate with the state instead to avoid the uncertainty. the state in 2020 finalized an agreement with bmw, ford, honda, volkswagen group of america and volvo, which agreed to follow the state’s standards through 2026 regardless of what the federal government did. but these agreements leave open to challenge the state’s requirements after 2026   including its landmark mandate for 100% zero emission car sales in 2035. last year, automaker stellantis agreed to comply with the state’s zero emission car sales requirements through 2030, even if california is “unable to enforce its standards as a result of judicial or federal action.” “to the extent that the new incoming administration… tries to dismantle these programs, i think they’re going to face some strong opposition.” paul nolette, a professor of political science at marquette university who has studied how attorneys general shape policies through litigation, said california might not only challenge federal rollbacks but also work directly with industries to agree on emission standards. for example, california could negotiate more agreements with automakers, bypassing federal regulations. this approach, modeled after settlements in industries like tobacco and banking, could set a powerful precedent, allowing california to push its environmental agenda even without federal support. the state’s large economy gives it considerable influence as manufacturers and corporations can’t afford to ignore california’s car and truck market. congress could try to repeal the clean air act to remove california’s long standing authority. but even with a republican majority, congress would likely face many obstacles, especially with potential filibustering by democrats. previous efforts in congress to scale back the clean air act have failed since many states support strong efforts to combat air pollution. if california’s authority comes under fire, nolette expects legal battles to reach the conservative leaning supreme court. california doesn’t have much choice when it comes to cleaning its air. if california doesn’t have specific plans and rules to meet national health standards for smog and soot, the state faces federal sanctions   withholding of federal highway funds. carlson said that “makes the trump effort to deny the waivers actually legally vulnerable … .the court is bound by what the law says.” california has “to regulate cars and trucks and other equipment if we’re supposed to meet our air quality standards,” said paul cort, an attorney with earthjustice. “until that changes, i think folks just keep moving forward.” another potential challenge could come from congress if republicans retain control of the u.s. house of representatives. the congressional review act allows congress to revoke federal rules approved during a certain timeframe at the end of an administration. legal experts, however, debate whether that law would apply to epa actions related to california’s clean air waivers. the offshore wind industry could be a day one casualty if trump makes good on his promise to sign an executive order to “end” the offshore wind industry. he cannot do that with the stroke of a pen. but as president, trump can deeply wound this next generation renewable energy source by cutting off funding just as it’s gaining a foothold in the u.s. california’s offshore wind plans rely on a federal policy that offers billions in grants, subsidies and tax incentives. floating offshore wind farms, which bob in the deep ocean as much as 20 miles from shore, are still not common in u.s. waters. but the technology is well on its way to being deployed in california, which counts on the clean energy source to meet its goals to scrub fossil fuels from the electric grid. the state’s blueprint envisions offshore wind farms producing 25 gigawatts of electricity by 2045, powering 25 million homes and providing about 13% of the power supply. five offshore wind companies have already paid the u.s. treasury $757 million to lease tracts in the ocean off humboldt county and morro bay. energy produced in the pacific would be part of a federal goal of 15 gigawatts of ocean wind power by 2035. the biden administration calls the rush to develop this new energy frontier the “floating offshore wind shot.” but harnessing that power could end up more of a long shot if trump pulls back federal support. the industry, which is largely europe based, has kept a keen eye on washington, d.c. politics   cheering when the bipartisan inflation reduction act passed, freeing up federal money, including $100 million for transmission development and a 30% tax credit. in the wake of trump’s election victory this week, stock in some offshore wind companies dropped. “president trump, in his first term, took a while to understand and exercise the reins of power. i expect that his administration will get off to a faster start this time with a more organized agenda.” trump vowed to “terminate” the inflation reduction act, but much of the tax breaks have already been claimed and the construction jobs, manufacturing and supply chain development will take place in districts that republican lawmakers might want to protect. trump has long carried a grievance against offshore wind turbines, a dislike that may have begun with turbines that the former president said spoiled the seaward view from his golf club in scotland. he has repeated, many times over the years and at recent campaign rallies, the unsubstantiated claims that wind farms cause cancer and environmental damage. “they destroy everything, they’re horrible, the most expensive energy there is,” trump said at a rally in may in new jersey. “they ruin the environment, they kill the birds, they kill the whales.” (scientists say there is no evidence that offshore wind projects kill whales.) floating offshore wind is at a critical inflection point. wind developers say they need certainty from state and federal partners that environmental policies will remain in place to reassure investors. that’s no problem in california, they say, where state officials have sent strong signals of support, backed by billions in investments to build power transmission and ports. the industry got a $475 million injection for port infrastructure from just passed ballot initiative proposition 4. “in the next few years much of the work that needs to be done to advance offshore wind will focus on state activities,” said adam stern, executive director of the industry group offshore wind california. while the federal scaffolding to support the industry is already in place, stern said, there’s no guarantee that support will remain. “as an industry we want to work with the new administration to help strengthen the state’s grid reliability, continue to achieve energy independence and create new jobs,” he said. “those issues ought to appeal to both republicans and democrats.” when it comes to all environmental programs and policies, experts and environmentalists say trump’s first term in the white house inflicted some damage, but they fear the second coming of trump could be worse for california. “president trump, in his first term, took a while to understand and exercise the reins of power,” said ron stork, a senior policy staffer with friends of the river. “i expect that his administration will get off to a faster start this time with a more organized agenda. they’ll be able to hit the ground running.” read more from calmatters text get breaking news on your phone. download keep up with the latest via our app. sign up receive free updates in your inbox. we’re calmatters, your nonprofit and nonpartisan news guide. our journalists are here to empower you and our mission continues to be essential. but we can’t keep doing this without support from readers like you. please give what you can today. every gift helps. julie cart is a projects reporter on calmatters’ environment team who focuses on wildfires and natural resources. julie’s work for calmatters has received numerous national and regional journalism... more by julie cart alejandro lazo writes about the impacts of climate change and air pollution and california’s policies to tackle them. he’s written about the state's groundbreaking electric vehicle mandate, the oil... more by alejandro lazo alastair bland lives in sonoma county, california. he writes about water, climate, marine research, agriculture and the environment, and his work has appeared at npr, time, east bay express, audubon, hakai,... more by alastair bland alejandra reyes velarde is an environmental equity reporter from los angeles. previously, reyes velarde was a california divide reporter for calmatters specializing in social mobility, labor issues, immigration... more by alejandra reyes velarde info@calmatters.org membership@calmatters.org

states have proven they can build the necessary infrastructure and operations that fully appreciate the business model of the early childhood sector with consistent investments in resources, necessary flexibilities, and integrated systems. (download) the covid 19 pandemic placed an unprecedented strain on the early childhood sector, compounding serious pre pandemic problems that threatened to wreak havoc on what is arguably the backbone of the u.s. economy, working parents. multiple studies showed that many providers shuttered at the pandemic’s start. one report found that close to 16,000 licensed providers nationwide permanently closed between december 2019 and march 2021. further, employment in the sector dropped 35% in april 2020, worsening the early care and education (ece) workforce shortage that existed before the pandemic. in response, congress passed a series of covid 19 pandemic relief packages: the coronavirus aid, relief, and economic security (cares) act in march 2020; the coronavirus response and relief supplemental appropriations (crrsa) act in december 2020; and the american rescue plan (arp) act in march 2021. the three relief packages contained $52.5 billion in emergency supplemental child care and development fund (ccdf) funds and provided states with historic funding levels to address the challenges facing the early childhood sector. for context, in fiscal year 2019, congress appropriated $8.1 billion for the ccdf, the largest federal early childhood program. each new covid 19 relief funding source included temporary, programmatic flexibilities to help states meet the needs of early childhood providers and families. this report examines how states strategically approached managing and administering the historic influx of covid 19 relief funds, focusing on governance structures, funding management systems, and data systems. the report explores the rationale and influencing factors that informed decision making for state executives and policymakers on disbursing funds, rather than compiling examples of state early childhood initiatives during the pandemic. to decipher states’ strategic approaches, the national governors association conducted a series of learning calls with 14 states and hosted an in person roundtable during the spring of 2023 to ascertain governors’ offices and state administrators’ perspectives on the topic. this report is organized into five sections: each section captures key discussion points and highlights strategies employed by alabama, colorado, connecticut, iowa, kentucky, maine, massachusetts, new jersey, new mexico, north carolina, ohio, rhode island, south carolina, and utah. states were pressure tested, especially when it came to the ece workforce, which was already at a crisis point prior to the pandemic. the covid 19 pandemic’s impact on the sector and the historic levels of federal funds states received marked an inflection point. most states acknowledged that with sufficient and consistent investments in resources, flexibility, and integrated systems and coordination, states can stand up and strengthen systems to stabilize the early childhood sector. while states achieved great successes during the pandemic, the sector’s instability and the effects it will have on the overall ece workforce continue to reverberate. at the beginning of the pandemic, states operated in a rapid response climate where the needs and problems of the early childhood sector constantly changed. the expiration timeline for covid 19 relief funds, with arp funds expiring in september 2024, played a pivotal role in how states disbursed funds. states faced balancing how to meet the immediate needs of the sector with how to strengthen and sustain systems once the federal emergency funds ended. the anticipation of the fiscal cliff, the ending of the availability of these additional federal funds, contributed to state decisions on whether to invest in one time, non recurring efforts or longer term efforts that would need greater investments either by the state or federal government. having trust with providers and the early childhood community greatly influenced how states disbursed funds and increased the effectiveness of the strategies they employed. the earlier that states engaged stakeholders in their strategic planning, the better positioned they felt they were in preventing or mitigating problems. many states prioritized creating systems that were accessible to providers, ece workers, and families, including transitioning to online systems and designing applications that were easy to complete. further, states reported that investments in professionalizing many providers as small businesses helped sustain providers and improve state efficiencies like data collection that informed various iterations of funding providers received. many states initially relied on end of life technology or did not have key integrated systems to disburse covid 19 relief funds, slowing the disbursement process. in some states, in house information technology teams had competing demands for system build outs for other programs such as emergency rental assistance, medicaid, and the supplemental nutrition assistance program (snap). in other states, upgrading systems resulted in a long procurement process, with some states having only now secured vendors. states also identified major data gaps that presented challenges in determining supply and demand within the sector and how to structure programs, including eligibility and funding amounts, for providers, the ece workforce, and other stakeholders. throughout the pandemic, states were pressure tested to respond to the early childhood sector on lean infrastructure. while many states shared that this was a daunting experience, the historic levels of funds they received pushed states to think about the early childhood sector holistically. it also compelled states to think outside the box to address the sector’s immediate needs while building and sustaining long term infrastructure. states took varying approaches in identifying priorities. some states focused on priorities established before the pandemic, while others revisited their priorities and created new ones during the pandemic. in doing so, states identified key priorities or core areas supported by the governor, the lead early childhood agency, other relevant agencies, and often stakeholders to serve as guiding principles for disbursing federal funds. some states reported that their pre pandemic strategic work on priority setting significantly helped them to align around priorities or core areas more quickly once the pandemic hit. states discussed how the governor made early childhood a top priority and issued key directives accordingly before the pandemic. these executive actions laid a solid foundation for states to align their covid 19 relief disbursing strategies with overarching and well established early childhood priorities. in addition to governors’ directives, states such as connecticut, maine, and south carolina emphasized the importance of the preschool development grant (pdg) planning grant before the pandemic. their work, including developing core areas and strategic approaches, informed their disbursement strategies, especially during the early stages of the pandemic. other states focused on developing new priorities once the pandemic began. some states created pandemic specific strategic plans to inform their disbursement of federal funds. further, some states used the pandemic to reexamine their overarching early childhood priorities and core areas. regardless of when states identified their priorities or core areas, they used federal funds to finance their state’s ece sector and stabilize revenue for early childhood programs primarily focused on access and workforce, with a thread of equity and quality overall. overwhelmingly and understandably, access was a priority, with an emphasis on provider stability, as states were able to use this flexible funding to support a larger provider population, which included both subsidized and private pay providers. the length of time states closed facilities due to lockdown measures played a role in how much investment was needed to stabilize the sector. in some states, temporary closures occurred for two weeks, while in other states, providers’ closures spanned months. in response to limitations on families’ access to care, states focused on sites where providers cared for a substantial number of children of essential workers, providers that offered both extended and nontraditional hours, and child care deserts (locations with limited child care options.) yet, states reported that just as they focused on access issues, quality of care was still top of mind and they sought to actively maintain or enhance quality while also addressing access. states also concentrated on quickly stabilizing the ece workforce, although states continue to report significant challenges in this area. states employed several strategies through each iteration of federal funds that focused on the recruitment, retention, and advancement of ece workers. lastly, many states filtered their strategies through a lens that explored disparities in access for parents and providers, especially when deciding on eligibility requirements and program funding formulas. considering the potentially transformative size of federal investment in this sector, states undertook efforts to analyze inequities and overrepresentation of different populations to examine the utility and reach of their ece sectors. many states pursued strategies around stabilizing family care providers and subsidized providers to address access issues, given the presence of these models and provider types in areas with a higher social vulnerability index (svi), children from high need families, or where there were significant gaps in supply and demand. however, these strategies were not limited to funding. for example, states analyzed the application process with regards to equity, including how the application was rolled out and how technical assistance would be provided, to ensure that many barriers were removed from families, providers, and ece workers to access funding easily and quickly. many states articulated that the timeline for when the federal covid 19 relief funds expired greatly influenced their decision making approach to disbursing funds. states’ disbursement criteria had to meet their priorities, balance the short term needs of the sector, and consider the sustainability of key programs or strategies. the timeline for when the covid 19 relief funds expired actively forced states to consider how certain programs could persist beyond the deadline; some states sought to avoid a benefits cliff for families, providers, and the ece workforce. as a result, many states reported focusing on one time investments that could yield long term results such as professional development courses for early childhood educators. while keeping the timeline for the expiration of funds front of mind, states had to balance and reassess their other priorities and the realities of the sector. at times, decisions were made in spite of the anticipated fiscal cliff. in these instances states reported that the urgency of the emergency outweighed the future potential political challenges that may arise from ending a popular program/benefit. the rationale was often: (1) states needed to address an acute issue, and this was the only viable option; or (2) if states achieve substantial change in addressing the problem, then the program’s success could compel key decision makers to sustain the program, especially if the results increased the number of providers and helped to recruit and retain ece workers. regardless of where states were with identifying priorities and implementing strategies at the beginning of the pandemic, all states acknowledged that they were in a rapid response climate throughout all of 2020, at the very least. states were transparent and emphasized that, for the most part, it was difficult to adhere to specific funding blueprints within each of their priorities or core areas. as soon as one plan was created, the problem and need would change. this is why states reported that it was helpful to receive funding iteratively instead of all at once. it allowed states to reexamine how they deployed their most recent strategies and assess their impact on the early childhood sector. further, this ongoing assessment aided states in building and strengthening their ece systems, as discussed throughout this report. states emphasized the necessity of efficient state governance structures in overseeing covid 19 relief funds, although these structures varied. states remarked that the pandemic highlighted silos, cultures, and practices that needed to be improved. in discussing what “efficiency” meant to them, states described a highly integrated, collaborative, and communicative structure. they mentioned an environment with an investment in necessary resources, without duplication, to support a highly functional operation that could execute aligned priorities in a timely manner, including the disbursement of federal funds. above all, states pointed to the informal relationship building cultivated by staff within and across agencies that drove open communication, collaboration, and efficiency. there was a shared desire among staff to execute priorities by delivering funds to providers in a timely manner. states, including connecticut, maine, and south carolina, discussed how a more consolidated and integrated early childhood office or agency helped them more effectively provide resources to providers. however, for other states, many of their agencies and offices had to obtain memorandums of agreement and receive the state legislature’s approval of them, resulting in significant delays in disbursing covid 19 relief funds. some states also noted that new administrations and turnover affected coordination at the start of the pandemic. in one state, new department leadership and a multi agency consolidation (combining of relevant agencies) accompanied the outset of the pandemic, which compounded staff and agency bandwidth restrictions and involved some turnover in institutional knowledge. states articulated that having clear direction and support from the governor’s office was foundational to cultivating consistent and collaborative communication with the lead and coordinating agencies and the stakeholders themselves, especially providers. in other states, like ohio and rhode island, it was often a best practice to have the governors’ senior advisors maintain open and consistent communication with early childhood state administrators, staff, providers, and stakeholders. for other states, meeting the needs of the early childhood community during the pandemic helped to drive a reorganization. the responsibilities of and the relationship between the governor and the state legislature were pivotal in the timing of fund disbursement, the viability and sustainability of programs, the amount of funding invested into the ece sector, and building trust among the early childhood community. some states, including alabama, iowa, kentucky, and new mexico, explained that the governor had full discretion over the disbursement of ccdf supplemental funds under cares, crrsa, and arp. these states did not need the state legislature’s approval to appropriate the funds. however, if these states wanted to access coronavirus state and local fiscal recovery funds (slfrf) under arp to invest in the ece sector, then the state legislature had the authority to appropriate such funds. it was articulated that for federal funds authorized under cares and crrsa, the state legislature often supported the work of the governor because of the rapid response climate. however, when it came to arp funds, in certain instances, some state legislators increased their scrutiny of how federal funds were being used and the impact on the early childhood sector. questions included but were certainly not limited to: in kentucky, the legislature convened two interim task forces to focus specifically on early care and education and the timeline for the expiration of covid 19 relief funds. both task forces educated legislators on the issues facing the sector and the intricacies of child care programs. states viewed much of the scrutiny as helpful and beneficial to their work, although some states acknowledged they faced some skepticism about appropriating additional funds to the sector because of the significant amount of federal funds flowing to states. state leaders reported that this sometimes complicated appropriations discussions or delayed appropriations for early childhood programs by more than six months, especially state funds for long term initiatives. in some states, the governor had full discretion on how to spend ccdf supplemental funds. in others, the state legislature had the authority to appropriate the supplemental funds, which, in some cases, substantially delayed the disbursement process. overall, many governor’s offices described a good working relationship with the state legislature and pointed to some best practices they adopted to invest in the relationship, including states with split party control between the governor and state legislature. best practices included building trust and alignment with the early childhood community and using data and findings from key programs to make the case for further state investments. some states have expressed concern about how the governor and state legislature will work together to continue investments in the early childhood sector when the covid 19 relief funds expire. in disbursing funds, states implemented systems that prioritized accessibility and ease of use by all grantees, especially providers. all states focused on getting funds out the door quickly through various approaches, with two factors playing a significant role in their decision making: (1) the immediate needs to stabilize providers, especially at the beginning of the pandemic; and (2) the time limited nature of funds/programs, creating programs or decisions that could survive past the expiration of covid 19 relief funds. in creating sustainable programs, states identified programs that needed one time investments, could be supported through slfrf, or could be supported by federal funds other than covid 19 relief funds. states also ensured their formulas accounted for different setting types by looking at data, including census data. in terms of the ece workforce, states explained that the anticipation of the fiscal cliff was a strong factor in how they decided to disburse funds and a key challenge to creating sustainable workforce programs. most states shared that as funds expire, they expect the workforce shortage may increase without additional federal or state investments. some states articulated that a lot of the guidance issued by the office of child care under the u.s. department of health & human services (hhs) directed states to invest in compensation. interestingly, some states felt this guidance was given with the expectation of build back better passage, or that that additional funding would be allocated by congress, which states were reluctant to rely on. states said they had to balance the certainty of current funding with the uncertainty of future funding and focus on workforce strategies that would not be disadvantaged by the firm expiration date of the funds from arp. certain states, including alabama and rhode island, shared that one of the reasons they structured workforce payments as bonuses, rather than increasing salaries, was due to the timeline for expiration of federal covid 19 relief funds. in these cases, it was incumbent on state officials to be transparent about the timeline and purpose for which such benefits were provided. other states focused on a hybrid model. additionally, states focused on one time workforce investments with federal funds that could lead to sustained outcomes or programs that could be maintained through other funding sources. states like colorado, iowa, kentucky, and utah used federal funds to pilot employer sponsored early childhood programs. states, including kentucky, used the emergency ccdf supplemental funds to support professional development for early childhood educators with the goal of increasing hiring and earning potential for educators who stay in child care or preschool programs. as states transitioned out of a rapid response climate, many adjusted their funding formulas to increase the effectiveness of their impact. however, some states explained that adjustments or changes to their funding formulas had unintended consequences. states also adopted an operational like mantra of “quick and easy” when designing the user experience to apply for funds. at the beginning of the pandemic, many states moved from paper to online applications, which significantly reduced application errors and saved staff time and maintenance. online systems also helped streamline the renewal and redetermination process. while most states limited the number of application questions and attestations, states varied on reporting requirements. this variance was based on the lack of data states had to inform disbursement strategies and measure impact and uncertainty regarding what the federal government would ask for earlier in the pandemic. however, most states tried not to add many reporting requirements during the disbursement of cares funding due to the rapid response climate and to mitigate unnecessary burdens on providers. all states agreed that communication and accessibility were critical to connecting with providers and educating them about funding opportunities. further, many states, including kentucky and north carolina, emphasized the need to professionalize child care providers as small businesses, especially family care providers. states explained that business viability for most providers relied on extremely thin profit margins, and many providers were taking out business loans and incurring personal credit card debt to remain open. in response, states provided business support to providers to improve business operations, including tax advising to inform them how to account for the stabilization grants on their taxes. this support also better situated providers to respond to additional requirements by improving their recordkeeping. the massive influx of federal funds in the successive covid 19 relief bills forced many states to improve and integrate their early childhood data systems, including modernizing technology and strengthening data collection and evaluation. many states had not updated portions of their data systems in 20 years, and certain states identified the 2012 race to the top education funds as the last significant investment in their data systems. many states lacked an integrated data system where the workforce registry, eligibility, subsidy, licensing, and quality systems talked to each other. even more, many states were already deficient in one or more of these systems, which compounded the barriers to disbursing federal funds efficiently. therefore, when the pandemic hit, many states relied on end of life technology and did not possess key systems to disburse covid 19 relief funds efficiently, slowing the process. whether states had to make relatively minor or substantial data system changes, many states used the pandemic as an opportunity to update aspects of their systems, which informed disbursement strategies and improved data collection. whether states procured vendors or worked with their in house information technology (it) teams, states experienced different timelines in updating their systems. this meant that states had varying resources from which to collect data and inform strategies, communicate efficiently with stakeholders, and expedite the disbursement process. some states said having in house it teams gave them the flexibility to make data systems modifications throughout the pandemic and provided significant cost savings, allowingthat money to go directly to the early childhood community. however, two major challenges some states faced were that it teams often did not have expertise in designing early childhood systems or that the it teams had competing interests. some states remarked that the pandemic and emergency relief funds increased the need for system build outs for other programs such as emergency rental assistance, medicaid, and snap. other states expressed frustration with how long the procurement process took to secure a vendor. one state explained that it leveraged flexibilities from the covid 19 exigency and existing contracts to the degree possible to obviate procurement challenges. some states began the procurement process at the beginning of the pandemic and have only now secured vendors. additionally, some states remarked about the high cost of using outside vendors, although a few states explained they used slfrf and pdg funds to support the work. in tracking and collecting data, many states identified data gaps that presented challenges in determining program eligibility and funding amounts to providers, the ece workforce, and other stakeholders. states had difficulties understanding supply and demand in the sector, such as enrollment patterns and provider capacity. for example, aside from the subsidy enrollment, some states could not verify if private pay providers were full or what their capacity looked like, particularly when there was a significant decline in enrollment due to lockdowns and waves of covid 19 cases before vaccinations. many states did not maintain accurate data and/or records on their ece workforce, despite complying with robust federal background check requirements for the sector. some states did not even have a workforce registry at the start of the pandemic. states struggled with collecting workforce data such as the number of full time employees (ftes) providers had, including ftes in different positions, and the range of salaries being paid. as such, some states only had the option to disburse workforce compensation through the providers instead of directly to the workers. however, some states were better positioned to collect workforce data to better assess their return on investment of disbursed federal funds. further, states acknowledged that considerable data gaps meant addressing location  and population based disparities in access to quality care was a challenge, even as it was consistently a concern states raised. while states discussed accounting for the social vulnerability index when calculating funding formulas, the lack of modernized data systems and insufficient data capacity hamstrung states in their efforts to address inequities and improve access, especially for populations and locations experiencing the most barriers. serious concerns about the fragility of the early childhood sector existed before the pandemic. however, the historic level of covid 19 relief funds was a tipping point for how states could and, in fact, did, leverage resources to stand up and strengthen infrastructure to help stabilize the sector. the strategic decisions behind how states disbursed funds clearly show that states had to reexamine the entirety of their early childhood systems (both the supply and demand sides), including their priorities, governance structure, working relationship with their state legislatures, the application design process, and data systems. despite working in a rapid response climate, states have proven they can build the necessary infrastructure and operations that fully appreciate the business model of the early childhood sector with consistent investments in resources, necessary flexibilities, and integrated systems. “optimizing federal covid relief funds: state perspectives on bolstering child care and early childhood systems” was written by dana t. weekes, principal of thrive architects, and jessica n. drapela and malaïka john, with support from nga center staff including, jessica kirchner, elijah mccabe, ekaan ahmad, and jordan hynes. this report was made possible by heising simons foundation. empowering progress: harnessing skills based strategies to drive public… addressing the link between trauma and addiction advanced grid technologies: governor leadership to spur innovation… key takeaways from action lab on strategic financing… feb. 6, 2025 feb. 5, 2025 feb. 3, 2025 feb. 3, 2025 jan. 29, 2025 jan. 22, 2025 jan. 21, 2025 jan. 14, 2025 jan. 6, 2025 dec. 29, 2024 dec. 23, 2024 dec. 20, 2024 © 2025 nga. all rights reserved. this website uses cookies for functionality and helping our team understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful. please see our privacy policy for more information. this website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognizing you when you 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thanks for signing up as a global citizen. in order to create your account we need you to provide your email address. you can check out our privacy policy to see how we safeguard and use the information you provide us with. if your facebook account does not have an attached e mail address, you'll need to add that before you can sign up. this account has been deactivated. please contact us at contact@globalcitizen.org if you would like to re activate your account. what do leonardo dicaprio, pope francis, and the united nations special rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights have in common? they’ve all used their platforms to highlight the link between poverty and climate change and said we can't solve one without addressing the other. pope francis has called the global failure to act on climate change “a brutal act of injustice toward the poor," while dicaprio wisely pointed out “the environment and the fight for the world’s poor are inherently linked." philip alston, the un rapporteur, said in 2019 that a "climate apartheid" is right around the corner. climate change looms over all countries, promising severe droughts, supercharged storms, and blistering heat waves. but these consequences are unevenly felt around the world. above all, they threaten the most vulnerable populations across the globe. “climate change is going to amplify the already existing divide between those who have resources and those who do not,” eliot levine, director of the environment technical support unit at mercy corps, told global citizen. “we are already seeing the impacts of climate change around the world, and the latest ipcc reports clearly illustrate that we are very quickly heading towards experiencing them at a greater scale and degree of severity than we had previously understood," he added. as global temperatures and sea levels rise, as the oceans acidify and precipitation patterns get rearranged, people living in poverty are the most severely impacted. since climate change affects everything from where a person can live to their access to health care, millions of people could be plunged further into poverty as environmental conditions worsen. this is especially true for poor people living in low income countries. just as climate change deepens inequalities within a country, it also further stratifies international relations because some nations are more threatened by it than others. and poor countries have fewer resources to deal with the problem. “the world’s poorest communities often live on the most fragile land, and they are often politically, socially, and economically marginalized, making them especially vulnerable to the impacts of climate change,” christina chan, director of the world resource institute’s climate resilience practice, told global citizen. “more frequent and intense storms, flooding, drought, and changes in rainfall patterns are already impacting these communities, making it difficult for them to secure decent livelihoods.” evan mandino, right, sits with neighbors on a couch outside their destroyed homes as sun sets in the aftermath of hurricane maria, in yabucoa, puerto rico, sept. 26, 2017.image: gerald herbert/ap in 2017, hurricane maria slammed into puerto rico, becoming the deadliest hurricane in recent us history. more than two years later, the island is still recovering from the disaster. homes need to be repaired and rebuilt, water supplies have not been fully restored, schools and hospitals remain shuttered, and the island’s economy has been heavily disrupted. throughout puerto rico, the poorest communities were hit the hardest and are the furthest away from recovery. while many wealthy people left the island or used their resources to rebuild after the disaster, poor families have had to wait months or years for assistance from an underfunded relief effort. this pattern has played out around the world in recent years   an unusually powerful storm makes landfall, causes catastrophic harm, and deepens inequalities. and it’s a pattern that will only become more common, according to experts. $(function() { var contentlistprops = { contentlist: 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displaced family arrives after being rescued by a boat from a flooded area of buzi district, 200 kilometers (120 miles) outside beira, mozambique, on march 23, 2019.\u0022,\u0022author\u0022:\u0022themba hadebe/ap\u0022,\u0022description\u0022:\u0022a displaced family arrives after being rescued by a boat from a flooded area of buzi district, 200 kilometers (120 miles) outside beira, mozambique, on march 23, 2019.\u0022}},\u0022title\u0022:\u0022aid workers describe devastating toll of cyclone idai on southern africa\u0022,\u0022url\u0022:\u0022https://www.globalcitizen.org/en/content/photo\u002dpost\u002dcyclone\u002didai\u002dsouthern\u002dafrica/\u0022}]'), unorderedwithimage: true, v3styles: true, v3classes: "bst container fluid", showdescription: false, showmobileimage: true, thumbnaillinktabindex: " 1" }; bindcomponenttodiv( "related stories content list  331286", contentlist, contentlistprops ); var pageheadlineprops = { h5: "related stories", classname: "pt 0 pb 3 my 0" }; bindcomponenttodiv( "related stories plugin headline  331286", pageheadlines, pageheadlineprops ); }); coastal communities hold an estimated 37% of the global population   they’re hubs of commerce and culture, and have fueled global development. yet, for all their historic significance, these environments could be emptied out in the decades ahead as natural disasters intensify and sea levels rise. more than 570 coastal cities could be affected by sea level rise by 2050. in that same period, as many as 1 billion people could be displaced by environmental hazards primarily sea level rise and natural disasters. displacement can push a person into poverty by stripping them of their home, profession, and networks. many people who are displaced are unable to carry their former wealth into their new contexts and struggle to find work and regain their stability. an estimated 100 million people living in developing countries could be pushed into poverty by climate change by 2030. “not only are people within these contexts ill equipped to adequately prepare for these extreme events, but they’re also ill equipped to recover from them afterwards,” levine said. some cities, such as jakarta, have proposed a “managed retreat” to avoid sudden displacements. the indonesian capital, with a population of more than 10 million, has decided to relocate to the north of the country instead of trying to mitigate the climate risks it faces. in the meantime, hundreds of thousands of people from the city, particularly those living in slums, have already been displaced by storms and sea level rise. $(function() { var contentlistprops = { contentlist: 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is moving its capital to avoid sinking into the ocean\u0022,\u0022url\u0022:\u0022https://www.globalcitizen.org/en/content/indonesia\u002drelocating\u002dcapital\u002dclimate\u002dchange/\u0022}]'), unorderedwithimage: true, v3styles: true, v3classes: "bst container fluid", showdescription: false, showmobileimage: true, thumbnaillinktabindex: " 1" }; bindcomponenttodiv( "related stories content list  331287", contentlist, contentlistprops ); var pageheadlineprops = { h5: "related stories", classname: "pt 0 pb 3 my 0" }; bindcomponenttodiv( "related stories plugin headline  331287", pageheadlines, pageheadlineprops ); }); people are being displaced by drier phenomena as well. farmers throughout sub saharan africa have had to abandon their land due to devastating droughts in recent years. rising temperatures, meanwhile, are forcing an untold number of people around the world to pack up and leave their homes. the surge in refugees arriving from central america to the us has also gone up in part due to soaring temperatures and droughts that have pushed farmers off their land. to make matters worse, countries around the world are becoming more hostile to migrants and refugees, a problem that could get considerably worse as the number of those displaced by environmental factors grows. ethiopia has been experiencing historic droughts, which has led to water scarcity and food insecurity for millions.ethiopia has been experiencing historic droughts, which has led to water scarcity and food insecurity for millions.image: mulugenta ayene/unicef for the first time in years, world hunger rose in 2019. the sharpest increase was seen in sub saharan africa, where years of severe drought has ruined agricultural output. in zimbabwe, where more than 7 million people require food aid, the 2019 harvest was half as large as the year before, and this year’s harvest is on track to be similarly diminished. in southern africa alone, more than 45 million people face food shortages. crop yields vary from year to year for all sorts of reasons   lack of resources and technology, economic downturns, conflict, and political dysfunction. but climate change is a particularly disruptive variable that’s reshaping food production around the world, threatening up to half a billion people with poverty and food insecurity. droughts have become ruinously prolonged in sub saharan africa, for instance, a shift that has caused widespread crop failures, cattle deaths, food shortages, and poverty. similar agricultural disruptions are occurring around the world, with similar economic consequences. agricultural output could decline by as much as 30% in the years ahead, threatening the livelihoods of 500 million smallholder farmers at a time when the demand for food is expected to rise by up to 98% by 2050. “the disruptions that climate change brings to agricultural producers and their ability to put food on the table is immense and growing rapidly," levine said. “it’s also affecting their ability to produce foods that provide a balanced set of nutritional components. that was hard enough without climate change, and now there’s this added layer of complexity.” $(function() { var contentlistprops = { contentlist: 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nations photo\u0022,\u0022description\u0022:\u0022farmers in a mountainous area of sapa, viet nam.\u0022}},\u0022title\u0022:\u0022the green climate fund is dedicated to fighting climate change\u0022,\u0022url\u0022:\u0022https://www.globalcitizen.org/en/content/green\u002dclimate\u002dfund\u002dexplainer/\u0022}]'), unorderedwithimage: true, v3styles: true, v3classes: "bst container fluid", showdescription: false, showmobileimage: true, thumbnaillinktabindex: " 1" }; bindcomponenttodiv( "related stories content list  331288", contentlist, contentlistprops ); var pageheadlineprops = { h5: "related stories", classname: "pt 0 pb 3 my 0" }; bindcomponenttodiv( "related stories plugin headline  331288", pageheadlines, pageheadlineprops ); }); droughts intensified by climate change are putting immense pressure on the world’s freshwater supplies. already, 1 in 4 people around the world face dire water shortages. by 2050, it's predicted, as many as 50% of people could face water shortages. in recent years, major cities like são paulo and cape town have almost entirely run out of water, giving the world a peek into a future where fierce water rationing becomes the norm. in cape town, for instance, water police were deputized to patrol neighborhoods and crack down on wanton water use. water shortages also threaten regional security in parts of the world. the war in syria has been partly blamed on a drought that caused rural workers to migrate to urban areas in search of opportunity. the ensuing lack of opportunity led to mass protests and unrest that eventually helped trigger the war. “you already see contentious discussions around water between nations with existing national and international policies and processes in place,” levine said. “what happens when these discussions amplify in places where there are not international agreements around water use? how do you ensure there is equitable distribution of water when there’s not even domestic rules, let alone international agreements?” wildfires rage under plumes of smoke in bairnsdale, australia on dec. 30, 2019.wildfires rage under plumes of smoke in bairnsdale, australia on dec. 30, 2019.image: glen morey/ap the ongoing forest fires in australia have caused tens of thousands of people to flee their homes. but escaping the flames didn't put people out of harm's way. those who managed to flee are still being affected by the intense pollution being released into the air. forest fires are increasing in frequency and severity because of climate change and they’re harming the health of millions of people annually. all forms of air pollution, including from factories and vehicles, lead to an estimated 8.79 million premature deaths each year. air pollution disproportionately affects impoverished people who live in densely packed areas, close to industrial sites, and are unable to afford purifiers or trips away from their homes when the air becomes especially toxic. low  and middle income countries account for nearly 92% of all pollution related deaths. forest fires are increasingly corroding gains that have been made in air quality. in brazil, the 2019 fires in the amazon rainforest made the air poisonous for children, according to the world health organization. $(function() { var contentlistprops = { contentlist: 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/ chris goldberg\u0022,\u0022description\u0022:\u0022\u0022}},\u0022title\u0022:\u0022future heat waves could kill hundreds of thousands across us cities: report\u0022,\u0022url\u0022:\u0022https://www.globalcitizen.org/en/content/future\u002dheat\u002dwave\u002ddeaths/\u0022}]'), unorderedwithimage: true, v3styles: true, v3classes: "bst container fluid", showdescription: false, showmobileimage: true, thumbnaillinktabindex: " 1" }; bindcomponenttodiv( "related stories content list  331289", contentlist, contentlistprops ); var pageheadlineprops = { h5: "related stories", classname: "pt 0 pb 3 my 0" }; bindcomponenttodiv( "related stories plugin headline  331289", pageheadlines, pageheadlineprops ); }); climate change affects people’s health in other ways, too. deadly heat waves are becoming more common in parts of the world, creating conditions that endanger even healthy people. these heat waves, while felt universally, primarily threaten people in poverty who are unable to afford air conditioners and protection from water shortages. “beyond a certain point it becomes almost impossible to adapt [to climate change],” said mahir ilgaz, associate director of advocacy and campaigns at 350.org. “we’ve seen in places like mumbai, temperatures are fast approaching conditions that are inhospitable to human habitation." rising temperatures are also expanding the ranges of pests like mosquitoes that carry life threatening diseases, such as malaria, that have historically impacted people living in poverty. water  and food borne diseases are becoming more common too as increased flooding from extreme precipitation events causes pollution in waterways and farmland. the growing health problems associated with climate change are magnified by the lack of health care around the world, especially in poor communities. an estimated 1 in 5 countries have a health care plan for coping with climate change, according to the united nations (un). meanwhile, more than half of the global population doesn’t have reliable access to health care, and nearly 100 million people are pushed into poverty every year because of health issues, according to the world bank. image: joseph hunkins smallholder farmers depend on their crops for both food and income. when droughts, natural disasters, or some other climate change related event push them off their land, they often sink deeper into poverty. in wealthy countries, insurance acts as a safety net for farmers, allowing them to cope with bad crop yields and recover from disasters in a timely manner. farmers in low income countries, meanwhile, often don’t have this support. “recovery for them means a longer, harder, more dangerous process,” levine said. the same goes for small scale fisheries in developing countries who depend on their daily catch to get by. climate change is heating up the oceans far faster than land environments, destabilizing marine ecosystems, and causing fish populations to migrate. all of this makes it harder for fishers to meet their quotas. $(function() { var contentlistprops = { contentlist: json.parse('[]'), unorderedwithimage: true, v3styles: true, v3classes: "bst container fluid", showdescription: false, showmobileimage: true, thumbnaillinktabindex: " 1" }; bindcomponenttodiv( "related stories content list  331290", contentlist, contentlistprops ); var pageheadlineprops = { h5: "related stories", classname: "pt 0 pb 3 my 0" }; bindcomponenttodiv( "related stories plugin headline  331290", pageheadlines, pageheadlineprops ); }); livelihoods tied to subsistence   like farmers and fishermen in developing countries   are threatened by climate change and the people who fall into these categories often don’t have the resources to become climate resilient. farming and fishing are just two professions, but they represent hundreds of millions of people worldwide. in many countries, agriculture is the primary engine of the economy, with fishing being a major source of commerce as well. the economic shocks created by climate change will be disruptive. poor families will struggle to accommodate the rising costs of food and water associated with droughts and natural disasters, according to the world bank. climate change is also expensive for developing countries that have to redirect budgets to cope with environmental crises. in 2019, countries collectively spent $150 billion on climate change related disasters, and that’s not even accounting for funds spent on updating infrastructure and creating climate resilience. the money spent dealing with climate change also means less money spent on health care, education, job training, and other poverty reduction initiatives. the fight against climate change and poverty are intertwined. investments made to mitigate or adapt to climate change will inevitably reduce poverty, and investments made to reduce poverty will better protect people against the growing environmental crisis. countries can distribute hardier and more nutritious seeds to farmers, while providing them access to loans, grants, markets, technologies, and data that can boost harvests, according to the wri. they can invest in reforestation and coastline restoration projects to improve water security, protect communities from natural disasters, and create economic opportunities. $(function() { var contentlistprops = { contentlist: 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asosiasi usaha homestay lokal kabupaten raja ampat\u003b mikoko pamoja\u0022,\u0022description\u0022:\u0022\u0022}},\u0022title\u0022:\u002215 grassroots organizations that are saving the planet\u0022,\u0022url\u0022:\u0022https://www.globalcitizen.org/en/content/15\u002dgrassroots\u002dorganizations\u002dsaving\u002dthe\u002dplanet/\u0022}]'), unorderedwithimage: true, v3styles: true, v3classes: "bst container fluid", showdescription: false, showmobileimage: true, thumbnaillinktabindex: " 1" }; bindcomponenttodiv( "related stories content list  331291", contentlist, contentlistprops ); var pageheadlineprops = { h5: "related stories", classname: "pt 0 pb 3 my 0" }; bindcomponenttodiv( "related stories plugin headline  331291", pageheadlines, pageheadlineprops ); }); above all, countries can reduce greenhouse gas emissions and transition to clean energy economies to prevent climate change from escalating in the future. switching from fossil fuels to clean energy sources could add upwards of $26 trillion to the global economy by 2030. “dismantling the pillars of support for the fossil fuel industry is crucial,” ilgaz said. “it takes many shapes   divestment, cutting subsidies for infrastructure investments. the starting point should be keeping fossil fuels in the ground.” organizations like the green climate fund and the international fund for agricultural development are working to both prepare communities for increasing climate risks and enable them to thrive in changing climates. ilgaz said that countries need to develop just transition plans that help people working in industries dependent on fossil fuels find new sources of income and stability. these just transition plans must also reimagine humanity’s relationship to nature and the overexploitation of natural resources, he said. “climate change is not an isolated issue, it’s linked to a larger ecological crisis that we see more and more these days,” ilgaz added. crucially, these efforts have to involve the input of local stakeholders. “while communities are at the frontlines of climate change impacts, they rarely have an effective voice in prioritizing, decision making, and implementing the actions that most affect them,” said chan of wri. “in terms of interventions, none may be more important than increasing the volume of devolved and decentralized funding available to local governments, community based organizations, and others working at the local level to identify, prioritize, implement, and monitor climate adaptation solutions.” levine stressed that inadequate financing is the main thing preventing climate resilience programs from taking off in vulnerable areas. “we could talk about water security, early warning systems, and smart agriculture, but none of these things are going to be a reality if we don’t increase funding,” he said. “if we don’t ensure funds get to the ground, if we don’t have the ability to put strategies into place, then the conversation is moot.” $(function() 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coffrini/afp/getty\u0022,\u0022description\u0022:\u0022swedish climate activist greta thunberg speaks during a meeting with intergovernmental panel on climate change (ipcc) representatives after the launch of a special ipcc report on climate change and land on august 8, 2019 in geneva. humanity faces increasingly painful trade\u002doffs between food security and rising temperatures within decades unless it curbs emissions and stops unsustainable farming and deforestation, a landmark climate assessment said the ipcc. negotiators from 195 countries on august 8, 2019 finalised the most comprehensive scientific assessment yet of how the land we live off affects climate change, after marathon talks in geneva.\u0022}},\u0022title\u0022:\u0022greta thunberg understands the ‘carbon budget’   do you?\u0022,\u0022url\u0022:\u0022https://www.globalcitizen.org/en/content/what\u002ddoes\u002da\u002dcarbon\u002dbudget\u002dmean/\u0022}]'), unorderedwithimage: true, v3styles: true, v3classes: "bst 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numbers, facts and trends shaping your world read our research on: full topic list read our research on: | pew research center conducted this study to understand how americans view climate, energy and environmental issues. we surveyed 13,749 u.s. adults from april 20 to 29, 2021. the survey was conducted on pew research center’s american trends panel (atp) and included an oversample of adults ages 18 to 24 from the ipsos knowledge panel. a total of 912 generation z adults, born after 1996, were included in the sample. respondents on both panels are recruited through national, random sampling of residential addresses. this way nearly all u.s. adults have a chance of selection. the survey is weighted to be representative of the u.s. adult population by gender, race, ethnicity, partisan affiliation, education and other categories. read more about the atp’s methodology. here are the questions used for this report, along with responses, and its methodology. in the first year of joe biden’s presidential term, climate, energy and environmental policy have been the subject of renewed federal attention. in recent months, the united states has rejoined the paris agreement on climate change, the environmental protection agency has moved to sharply restrict greenhouse gas emissions, and biden has outlined a range of policy goals, including getting the u.s. to “net zero” by 2050. even as americans identify a number of pressing national problems, majorities see an array of actors, from government to business, as doing too little to reduce the effects of climate change and are broadly supportive of a range of policy approaches that would help address climate change, including moving toward renewable energy sources, developing infrastructure for electric vehicles, and increasing taxes and restrictions on carbon emissions. still, most americans favor using a mix of energy sources to meet the country’s needs   including renewables as well as oil, coal and natural gas. there is limited support for phasing out the use of fossil fuels altogether. and the public is closely divided over the idea of phasing out the production of gas powered vehicles by 2035. partisan gaps in views of climate change remain vast   from the salience of the issue to the role for government addressing it. and divisions over renewable energy and stricter environmental regulations are wider today than they were under donald trump’s administration, due to increased opposition among republicans. but meaningful generational differences over the need for climate action, and engagement with the issue, stand alongside these partisan divisions. younger activists are often at the forefront of the climate debate, with voices such as those of greta thunberg and the sunrise movement   a youth led political organization urging increased attention to climate change   among the most visible in global conversations advocating climate action. younger americans   millennials and adults in generation z   stand out in a new pew research center survey particularly for their high levels of engagement with the issue of climate change. compared with older adults, gen zers and millennials are talking more about the need for action on climate change; among social media users, they are seeing more climate change content online; and they are doing more to get involved with the issue through activities such as volunteering and attending rallies and protests. while many forms of political engagement   such as voting   tend to be higher among older adults, 32% of gen zers and 28% of millennials have taken at least one of four actions (donating money, contacting an elected official, volunteering or attending a rally) to help address climate change in the last year, compared with smaller shares of gen x (23%) and baby boomer and older adults (21%). the survey finds that, when asked about engaging with climate change content online, those in gen z are particularly likely to express anxiety about the future. among social media users, nearly seven in ten gen zers (69%) say they felt anxious about the future the most recent time they saw content about addressing climate change. a smaller majority (59%) of millennial social media users report feeling this way the last time they saw climate change content; fewer than half of gen x (46%) and baby boomer and older (41%) social media users say the same. anxiety about the future also is a predominant emotional reaction to climate change content among those who are most engaged with the issue on social platforms (those who follow a climate focused account, interact with, post or share climate content themselves). majorities of these climate engaged social media users report feeling angry that not enough is being done when encountering climate change content online; but large shares also say they feel motivated to learn more and confident in the ability to reduce the effects of climate change. as a group, larger shares of younger adults identify with, or lean toward, the democratic party than the gop. but generational differences in climate change attitudes and behaviors are not simply a reflection of the democratic orientation of younger adults. in fact, among republicans, generational differences in views are often quite pronounced. for example, 49% of gen z and 48% of millennial republicans (including republican leaners) say action to reduce the effects of climate change needs to be prioritized today, even if that means fewer resources to deal with other important problems; significantly fewer gen x (37%) and baby boomer and older (26%) republicans say the same. attitudinal differences by generation among democrats are less common, as large shares prioritize climate action and back policies to help reduce climate impacts. still, younger democrats are more likely than older democrats to be talking about the need for action on climate change and to have been personally encouraged to become more involved. and on the policy front, gen z and millennial democrats express more openness to breaking with fossil fuels entirely than gen x and baby boomer and older democrats. the new national survey by pew research center, conducted april 20 to 29 among 13,749 u.s. adults, including 912 gen z adults, finds a majority of americans (64%) say efforts to reduce the effects of climate change need to be prioritized today to ensure a sustainable planet for future generations, even if it means fewer resources for addressing other important problems; far fewer (34%) say climate change should be a lower priority, given other important problems facing americans today. in line with the public’s view that climate change should be addressed today, majorities believe a range of public and private actors are not doing enough to help reduce climate impacts. more than six in ten americans say large businesses and corporations (69%) and the energy industry (62%) are doing too little to address climate change. such critiques extend beyond industry: two thirds say ordinary americans are doing too little to help reduce the effects of climate change. consistent with past center surveys, majorities also say the federal government is doing too little across a range of environmental concerns   such as protecting air and water quality   and 59% see it as doing too little to reduce the effects of climate change. there are limits to how far the public is willing to go on climate and energy policy, especially when it comes to breaking with fossil fuels, a potential shift that gained increased attention during the global drop in carbon emissions in 2020 that accompanied the covid 19 pandemic. most americans (71%) continue to say the u.s. should prioritize development of alternative energy sources, such as wind and solar, over expanding production of oil, coal and natural gas. and there is strong policy support for tougher restrictions on power plant carbon emissions, as well as for higher fuel efficiency standards for cars and trucks. but the public is cool to the idea of phasing out fossil fuels from the country’s energy supply altogether and closely divided over transitioning away from gas powered cars. nearly two thirds of americans (64%) say the u.s. should use a mix of energy sources going forward   including oil, coal and natural gas, along with renewables; far fewer (33%) support phasing out fossil fuels entirely. by 51% to 47%, a slightly larger share of americans oppose than favor phasing out the production of new gasoline cars and trucks by 2035   a proposal that has been put forward by governors in 12 states, including california and new york. phasing out gas powered vehicles is one of several measures the international energy association says will be needed to reach net zero emissions globally. the views of gen zers and millennials are distinct from those of older adults over the use of fossil fuels. majorities of gen zers (56%) and millennials (57%) favor phasing out new gasoline cars and trucks by the year 2035; by contrast, majorities of gen x (53%) and baby boomer and older adults (59%) oppose this idea. and while adults across generations are inclined to use a mix of sources to meet the country’s energy needs, support for phasing out the use of oil, coal and natural gas is significantly higher among gen zers and millennials (43% and 42%, respectively) than among gen x (32%) and baby boomer and older adults (25%). the biden administration signaled a focus on climate change since taking office, calling it a profound crisis. the new center survey finds majorities of americans support a number of proposals to address climate change, including three specific elements in biden’s infrastructure plan. more than seven in ten americans (74%) support a proposal to require power companies to increase their reliance on renewable energy sources in order to reduce carbon emissions. a smaller majority (62%) backs federal spending to build a network of electric vehicle charging stations across the country in order to increase the use of electric cars and trucks. and a similar share (63%) supports raising corporate taxes to pay for more energy efficient buildings and improved roads, a key funding mechanism in biden’s infrastructure proposal. on the question of the economic benefits   or costs   of biden’s infrastructure plan, 50% of u.s. adults think the plan to rebuild the country’s infrastructure in ways that are aimed at reducing the effects of climate change will help the economy, while fewer (30%) think it will hurt the economy; 18% say it will make no difference. as expected, there are sharp partisan divisions over these proposals and their likely economic impact: 78% of democrats think the biden administration plan will help the u.s. economy, while a majority of republicans (59%) say the opposite and expect it to hurt the economy. the survey provides a detailed look at the 31% of americans for whom climate change is a top personal concern. this group is distinct in their views on climate from the 30% of americans who say that climate change is not important to them personally, as well as from the 39% who call it one of several issues   but not a top issue   they care about. for example, those with a strong personal concern about climate are much more likely than other groups to say human activity contributes “a great deal” to climate change, to believe climate scientists understand the phenomenon “very well” and to say climate scientists have too little influence on policy. this group also stands out for their priorities in thinking about climate policy. those most concerned about climate change are particularly likely to say protecting the quality of the environment for future generations (89%), getting the u.s. to net zero carbon emissions as quickly as possible (67%) and making sure proposals help lower income communities (65%) are very important considerations to them in climate policy proposals. other key findings from the survey include: fresh data delivery saturday mornings weekly updates on the world of news & information topics 901 e st. nw, suite 300washington, dc 20004usa(+1) 202 419 4300 | main(+1) 202 857 8562 | fax(+1) 202 419 4372 | media inquiries about pew research center pew research center is a nonpartisan, nonadvocacy fact tank that informs the public about the issues, attitudes and trends shaping the world. it does not take policy positions. the center conducts public opinion polling, demographic research, computational social science research and other data driven research. pew research center is a subsidiary of the pew charitable trusts, its primary funder. © 2025 pew research center

the united nations launched its sustainable development agenda in 2015, reflecting the growing understanding by member states that a development model that is sustainable for this and future generations offers the best path forward for reducing poverty and improving the lives of people everywhere. at the same time, climate change began making a profound impact on the consciousness of humanity. with the polar ice caps melting, global sea levels rising and cataclysmic weather events increasing in ferocity, no country in the world is safe from the effects of climate change. building a more sustainable global economy will help reduce the greenhouse gas emissions that cause climate change. it is, therefore, critically important that the international community meet the un's sustainable development goals   and also the targets for reducing emissions set in the paris climate agreement of 2015. sustainable development and climate action are linked   and both are vital to the present and future well being of humanity. un chief on decade of action for the sustainable development goals ever wondered: what is the 'paris agreement', and how does it work? this video explains the basics. environmental global commons global sustainable development report mdgs   close to 40 per cent of the population of the developing world was living in extreme poverty only two decades ago. since then, the world has halved extreme poverty, with the un’s millennium development goals (mdgs) greatly contributing to this progress. 2030 agenda  recognizing the success of the mdgs, and the need to complete the job of eradicating poverty, the un adopted the ambitious 2030 agenda for sustainable development, which includes ending poverty; zero hunger; good health and well being; quality education; gender equality; clean water and sanitation; affordable and clean energy; decent work and economic growth; industry, innovation and infrastructure; reduced inequalities; sustainable cities and communities; responsible consumption and production; climate action; life below water; life on land; peace, justice and strong institutions; and partnerships for the goals. paris agreement   while these goals were being formulated and approved, the united nations supported the climate change negotiations, which led to the paris agreement on climate change in 2015. the central aim of the paris agreement is to strengthen the global response to the threat of climate change by keeping the global temperature rise well below 2 degrees celsius above pre industrial levels, or even below 1.5 degrees celsius. additionally, the paris agreement aims to strengthen the ability of countries to deal with the impacts of climate change. in order to reach these goals, financing, new technology and an enhanced capacity building framework will be put in place. the agreement also provides for enhanced transparency of action and support through a transparency framework. the 2023 sdg summit took place on 18 19 september 2023 in new york. it marked the beginning of a new phase of accelerated progress towards the sustainable development goals with high level political guidance on transformative and accelerated actions leading up to 2030. convened by the president of the general assembly, the summit marked the half way point to the deadline set for achieving the 2030 agenda and the sustainable development goals. it responded to the impact of multiple and interlocking crises facing the world and is expected to reignite a sense of hope, optimism, and enthusiasm for the 2030 agenda. speaking at the opening of the high level forum, secretary general antónio guterres said: “the sdgs aren’t just a list of goals. they carry the hopes, dreams, rights and expectations of people everywhere.” the sdg summit adopted a political declaration, which calls for “gearing up for a decade of action and delivery for sustainable development”. against the backdrop of the worsening climate crisis, the un secretary general’s climate ambition summit aimed to showcase “first mover and doer” leaders from government, business, finance, local authorities, and civil society who came with credible actions, policies and plans   and not just pledges   to accelerate the decarbonization of the global economy and deliver climate justice in line with his acceleration agenda. “if these first doers and first movers can do it, everybody can do it,” the secretary general said in his closing remarks, calling it a “summit of hope.” by demonstrating that tangible and ambitious action to credibly cut emissions and deliver climate justice was possible and practical, the summit showcased a way forward: the alignment of sectoral, local, national and international plans and policies with credible and scienced backed targets to accelerate decarbonization, advance climate justice and fairness, with unprecedented levels of coordination and cooperation, and a renewed focus on credibility and accountability. ipcc synthesis report 2023 undp: natural ally the un high level political forum on sustainable development is the main global forum for reviewing successes, challenges and lessons learned on achieving the 2030 agenda for sustainable development and for countries to present their voluntary national reviews. the forum is convened under the auspices of both the economic and social council and the general assembly, and its meetings alternate between the two. the intergovernmental panel on climate change (ipcc) is the united nations body for assessing the science related to climate change. maintains the registry for nationally determined contributions (ndc) established under the paris agreement, among other functions. the paris agreement requests each country to outline and communicate their post 2020 climate actions, known as their ndcs. together, these climate actions determine whether the world achieves the long term goals of the paris agreement unep is the leading global environmental authority that sets the global environmental agenda, promotes the coherent implementation of the environmental dimension of sustainable development within the united nations system, and serves as an authoritative advocate for the global environment. unep works to support the world to transition to a low carbon, sustainable future. as the lead un development agency, undp helps implement the sdgs through its work in some 170 countries and territories. unicef works with governments, partners and other un agencies to support countries around the world to ensure that the sdgs deliver results for every child   now and for generations to come. unhcr offers a universal, integrated, transformative and human rights based vision for sustainable development, peace and security, which is applicable to all people and all countries, including the most developed. poverty eradication and respect for human rights, central pillars of the sustainable development goals (sdgs), are at the core of unrwa’s human development, humanitarian and protection work. the sdgs central to its work are: sdg 1: no poverty; sdg 2: zero hunger; sdg 3 good health and well being; sdg 4: quality education; sdg 5: gender equality; sdg 6: clean water and sanitation; sdg 8: decent work and economic growth; sdg 10: reduced inequalities; sdg17: partnerships. the department of economic and social affairs (part of the un secretariat) engages stakeholders around the world in the implementation, evaluation and monitoring process of the sdgs. un regional economic commissions play a critical role in supporting countries in their efforts to implement the 2030 agenda by providing technical capacity and analytical work and policy advisory services, and serving as platforms for dialogue. the un's regional economic commissions are part of the un secretariat. the economic commission for latin america and the caribbean (eclac) has emphasized the importance of planning as a key tool of policymaking and public management. countries in the latin america and the caribbean region have made significant commitments and taken steps to integrate the sustainable development goals into their national or subnational planning schemes. eca supported member states in achieving regional cooperation and integration, and contributed to the establishment of the african continental free trade area by 44 african countries, which will create a single continental market for goods and services that can deliver economies of scale, improved competitiveness, foreign direct investment and poverty reduction (sdg goal 1). unece supports the implementation of the 2030 agenda and the sustainable development goals (sdgs) by addressing transboundary issues: (convention on the protection and use of transboundary watercourses and international lakes), improving road safety, developing frameworks for the improved management of natural resources, and improving statistics for sustainable development. with extensive in house expertise, the economic and social commission for asia and the pacific (escap) has developed multisectoral research analysis on regional and national pathways for achieving the 2030 agenda. provides overall disaster and climate preparedness for the asia and pacific region. escwa has developed a macroeconomic sustainable development goal model that simulates the impact of policy choices on each of the 17 sdgs. escwa has also developed a regional multidimensional poverty reduction framework that was adopted by arab leaders at the 2019 arab economic and social development summit of the league of arab states. undrr works towards the substantial reduction of disaster risk and losses to ensure a sustainable future. the united nations office for partnerships (unop) serves as a global gateway for catalysing and building partnership initiatives between public and private sector stakeholders including civil society organizations, businesses, philanthropy, trade unions, academia and the united nations in furtherance of the sustainable development goals (sdgs). wmo helps its members to monitor the earth’s climate on a global scale, so that reliable information is available to support evidence based decision making on how to best adapt to a changing climate and manage risks associated with climate variability and extremes. imf work shows the key role of policies that respond to global climate change and other environmental challenges. the sdgs are aligned with the world bank group’s twin goals of ending extreme poverty and boosting shared prosperity. the adoption of a new approach to development finance through the addis ababa action agenda, along with the 2030 agenda, and sdgs, the sendai disaster risk framework, and the paris climate agreement will guide the un system and the un world bank group partnership through 2030. the multi year strategy of the un global compact is to drive business awareness and action in support of achieving the sdgs by 2030. unfpa is working with governments and other partners to better understand population dynamics, how they affect the changing climate and how people can become resilience in the face of these changes. un habitat promotes sustainable human settlements development. goal 2 of the sustainable development goals   zero hunger   pledging to end hunger, achieve food security, improve nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture, is the priority of the world food programme. contributing to the sustainable development goals by sustainably building a world without hunger, malnutrition and poverty is the goal of fao. given its goal of transforming rural areas and its unmatched experience in investing in smallholder farmers, ifad plays a central role in achieving sdgs 1 (no poverty) and 2 (zero hunger). by engaging governments, workers and employers as active agents of change, the ilo promotes the greening of enterprises, workplace practices and the labour market as a whole. these efforts create decent employment opportunities, enhance resource efficiency and build low carbon sustainable societies. imo’s technical cooperation committee has formally approved linkages between the organization’s technical assistance work and the sdgs. while the oceans goal, sdg 14, is central to imo, aspects of the organization's work can be linked to all individual sdgs. information and communication technologies (icts) can help accelerate progress towards every single one of the 17 united nations sustainable development goals (sdgs). itu contributes to sdg 9 in particular helping to build resilient infrastructure, promoting inclusive and sustainable industrialization and fostering innovation (specifically sdg target 9.c). unesco contributes to the implementation of the sdgs through its work on education, natural sciences, social and human sciences, culture, communication and information. additionally, the intergovernmental oceanographic commission (ioc) of unesco holds a universal mandate and global convening power for ocean science and capacity development in support of the 2030 agenda and its sustainable goals. unido supports all 17 sdgs, but puts a strong emphasis on sdg9, which focuses on building resilient infrastructure, promoting inclusive and sustainable industrialization and fostering innovation. tourism has the potential to contribute, directly, or indirectly, to all of the sdgs, in particular, in goals, 8, 12 and 14 on inclusive and sustainable use of oceans and marine resources. unwto is contributing with technical assistance and capacity building. the online solution for carbon analysis and reporting   known as oscar   is a tool provided by the upu to assist postal operators in the analysis of their individual greenhouse emissions by scope source and product. who is coordinating the global action plan for healthy lives and well being for all, a plan to accelerate progress towards the sdgs global health goals. the world intellectual property oragnization contributes to the sdgs by providing concrete services to its member states, enabling them to use the intellectual property (ip) system to drive the innovation, competitiveness and creativity needed to achieve these goals. unicri’s work focuses on goal 16 of the 2030 agenda for sustainable development agenda, which is centred on promoting peaceful, just and inclusive societies, free from crime and violence. justice, crime prevention and the rule of law are the basis for fighting poverty and reducing inequalities while enhancing economic growth and stability, and protecting the environment. unicri supports governments and the international community at large in tackling criminal threats to social peace, development and political stability. unodc is committed to supporting member states in implementing the 2030 agenda for sustainable development and the 17 sustainable development goals. the 2030 agenda recognizes that the rule of law and fair, effective and humane justice systems, as well as health oriented responses to drug use, are both enablers for, and part of sustainable development.

climate refugees are people who must leave their homes and communities because of the effects of climate change and global warming. climate refugees belong to a larger group of immigrants known as environmental refugees. 9   12+ health, earth science, meteorology, geography, human geography, physical geography climate refugees are people who must leave their homes and communities because of the effects of climate change and global warming. climate change is caused by natural events, such as volcanic eruptions, as well as human activities, such as burning fossil fuels and cutting down forests. climate change has happened many times since earth was formed billions of years ago. global warming is the most recent period of climate change. this term refers specifically to the increase in earth’s average temperature as a result of rising levels of greenhouse gasses. greenhouse gasses trap heat in the atmosphere and are released when fossil fuels are burned. fossil fuels, which include coal, oil, and natural gas, are used to generate electricity, power vehicles, heat homes and commercial buildings, and produce a wide variety of goods. in general, wealthy, industrialized countries create the most greenhouse gas emissions but feel the smallest effect of climate change, while low income, developing countries produce the lowest emissions but are the most at risk. countries with lower emissions tend to be in geographical regions that make them more vulnerable to climate change issues, such as deserts and low lying islands. they also have fewer resources available to prepare for climate emergencies and fund reconstruction efforts. dry areas, like the horn of africa, and low lying countries, like the maldives, are already feeling the strain of climate change while producing relatively few emissions. throughout the out of eden walk, a slow journalism project that traces the footsteps of the first humans to migrate out of africa, national geographic explorer paul salopek has documented the ongoing struggles of people impacted by climate change around the world. for example, salopek encountered pastoralist communities in the rift valley of ethiopia who had been driven to desperation by rain patterns that have recently become unpredictable. rising temperatures also lead to droughts and desertification, defined as the transformation of arable land to desert. during periods of drought, the topsoil becomes so degraded that it can no longer support agriculture. people cannot grow enough food to feed themselves, often leading to widespread hunger. dry land areas affected by drought and desertification have the highest infant mortality rates and the lowest gross domestic product per capita. rising sea levels, drought, and desertification are significant contributors as to why people flee from their home countries. these climate refugees belong to a larger group of immigrants known as environmental migrants. environmental migrants also include people who are fleeing sudden onset natural disasters, such as forest fires and flooding. national geographic explorer and photographer siddharth behl documents migration due to climate change in india and south asia as part of a humanitarian effort to create more awareness. the united nations reported that, in 2022, a higher percentage of refugees came from areas at risk because of climate change than ever before: from 61 percent in 2010 to 84 percent in 2022. a 2021 world bank report estimated that, by 2050, the climate crisis could drive more than 200 million people to move. in 2020, the institute for economics and peace put the number of people at risk of displacement by 2050 at over one billion, under the combined threat of climate change and civil unrest. out of the 33 billion tons of carbon dioxide produced globally, each u.s. household contributes an average of 8 10 metric tons. consumers can take a variety of actions to reduce their carbon footprint, from extending the life of goods and reusing materials to buying secondhand clothing and eating less meat. but individual actions alone cannot stop climate change. indeed, 70 percent of emissions are created by just 100 companies. these large corporations have battled against laws and regulations intended to curb emissions.sea level rise rising temperatures associated with global warming cause glaciers and ice caps to melt, which in turn leads to higher sea levels. this increase in sea levels contributes to flooding and can put land completely underwater, making it uninhabitable. a 2021 report published by naturecommunications estimated that 267 million people are currently living in areas affected by rising sea levels that could possibly put their land underwater. scientists predict that, if greenhouse gas emissions are not greatly reduced, the sea level for the united states could increase by as much as 2.2 meters (7.2 feet) by 2100. rising sea levels already cause problems in low lying coastal areas of the world. for instance, about a third of the population of bangladesh lives by the coast, and two thirds of the country is 4.5 meters (15 feet) or less above sea level. in 1995, bangladesh’s bhola island was half submerged by rising sea levels, leaving 500,000 people homeless. scientists predict bangladesh will lose 17 percent of its land by 2050 due to flooding caused by climate change. the loss of land could lead to as many as 20 million climate refugees from bangladesh. national geographic explorer asha stuart is a documentary filmmaker and photographer who has documented the lives of rohingya climate refugees in bangladesh, many of which were forced by soil erosion to flee their coastal homes. and while the tropics of asia contain much of the most at risk land, all continents have highly vulnerable areas, including the netherlands, niger, and the u.s. gulf coast. stuart has also documented the impacts of climate change and environmental racism on the historically black communities of the american deep south, where environmental issues hit people of color the hardest. the u.s. state of louisiana, for instance, loses 65 square kilometers (25 square miles) or more to the sea every year, particularly along the mississippi delta. when fresh water from the mississippi river mixes with salt water from the sea, it can destroy the salinity balance in both ecosystems. this can result in negative effects, including killing the fish and other animals living in the water. issues stemming from climate change such as storms that cause the mississippi river to flood the ocean with fresh water or rising sea levels that flood inland fresh water with salt from the sea threaten both the ecosystem and the livelihood of people supported by the fishing industry. maldives maldives, an island nation in the indian ocean, is perhaps the country most threatened by sea level rise. maldives rises only 2.4 meters (8 feet) above sea level at its highest point. sea level rise will likely create climate refugees because of changes in both habitat and economy the unique ecosystem of maldives supports many of the economic sectors of the country. fishing is the nation’s second largest industry, and maldivians eat more fish per day than any other population in the world. the supply of fish in maldives is being threatened by rising ocean temperatures, which has occurred as a result of the oceans absorbing the excess heat caused by global warming. when water temperature rises, particular types of fish leave for cooler waters, and food sources, such as coral, die. there could be up to 75 percent fewer fish caught in maldives by 2100. this would not only devastate the local economy, but also cause food scarcity and other problems. the top industry in maldives, tourism, is also under threat, because it depends on the ecology of the islands. tourism supports around 30 percent of the maldivian economy. but the islands’ popular white, sandy beaches and serene ocean views are already being affected by climate change. climate change creates unstable weather patterns that make storms more volatile. these storms cause increased flooding and more damage to the maldives. for example, unique and critical habitats like mangrove forests and wetlands are being lost due to erosion caused in part by storms. these areas, which support locals and draw tourists to the islands, are under extreme threat. finally, sea level rise may sink all 1,200 islands of maldives. this would force all maldivians to find new places to live. though the maldivian government has considered buying land in neighboring countries, like sri lanka, india, and australia, so that maldivians can move there, as of 2023, the government is committed to keeping the islands habitable by reclaiming land. though it does help the island stay above water, land reclamation projects can damage the environment. these projects have damaged coral reefs, destroyed mangrove forests, and harmed island communities’ way of life and culture. for example, traditional dishes in the maldives are based on locally produced crops, like coconut and breadfruit. this part of their cultural heritage could be lost without the islands. another issue is financing these projects. the maldivian government has asked countries with high emissions that are the biggest contributors to climate change, like china, india, and the united states, for funds. maldives only contributes 0.003 percent of the world’s emissions but faces complete destruction due to the emissions of other countries.cities at risk urban communities built along the coast or inland waterways are also at particular risk of rising sea levels. venice, italy, for example, is already sinking into the sea. this ancient city is built on a series of islands in a lagoon on the coast of the adriatic sea. because it lies at sea level, it is prone to flooding. earlier builders and residents planned for small, manageable floods a few times a year, but floods are becoming larger and more frequent. it is possible that the city could be almost completely underwater by 2100. many local residents have already become environmental migrants; the city’s population has dropped by more than half since the 1950s. there are fewer permanent residents in venice than tourist’s beds, and many venetians are concerned that their culture is already disappearing. the indonesian capital of jakarta is similarly threatened by climate change and other environmental issues so much so that indonesia’s government is relocating. jakarta is located along the java sea. almost half of the city’s land is below sea level, and it is sinking even more because of ground water extraction. the government is moving the capital to a more remote island, but the indigenous people living there are concerned that their culture and the natural resources in the rainforests will be destroyed by building a new city. drought and desertification while rising seas threaten coastal regions, drought and desertification can create climate refugees inland. when people cannot grow crops on the land where they live, they have to move somewhere else in order to survive. for example, the gobi desert in china is expanding every year, forcing farmers and merchants in the surrounding area to migrate to china’s crowded urban areas. residents near the horn of africa are especially vulnerable to drought and desertification, especially in the 2020s as it experienced the most severe and most lengthy drought in decades. most rural residents in the area engage in subsistence agriculture. subsistence agriculture means the farmers produce enough crops for themselves, their families, and communities rather than for sale on the national or international market. many subsistence farmers depend on their crops to feed their livestock. years of severe drought prevent crops from growing, which also prevents livestock from being raised. as the drought has worsened, people in the region have left their homes to find food and water. in somalia alone, 1.3 million people moved to displacement sites because of famine. the entire continent of africa contributes less than 4 percent of global greenhouse emissions but has already experienced extreme consequences of climate change. despite this, countries in the horn of africa get less funding from major climate change contributors to combat climate change than the average for less developed countries. refugee status environmental refugees are not protected by international laws and cannot apply for refugee status in a neighboring country based on a sudden or ongoing climate disaster alone. the term “environmental refugee” is debated among experts, with some advocating its use to help environmental migrants become protected by law, and others saying it is inaccurate and discounts those who are forced to migrate within their own country. therefore, most climate refugees are internal migrants, who move to another location within their home country. environmental and climate refugees may be forced off land they have been living on for generations. they include farmers, herders, fishermen, and other people for whom the land is essential to livelihood. these refugees move to cities, where they often settle in crowded camps, informal settlements, and other places that have insufficient infrastructure to meet the needs of the people living there. a sudden influx of newcomers can create or exacerbate tension between the host communities and displaced persons. this is why climate change is considered a “threat multiplier.” the problems that result often worsen existing problems, such as war, resource scarcity, and political strife. for example, the drought in burkina faso in 2022 and 2023 made the armed conflict there worse; the violence has been greatest in areas facing the driest and most dire climate conditions. like other migrants, climate and environmental refugees often have unrecognized benefits and untapped potential. some countries have resettled migrants in areas where they can plant trees and reclaim lands that recently went from arable to desert in hopes that the land will become fertile again. refugees with firsthand knowledge of the problems related to climate change may be the best advocates for solutions. the audio, illustrations, photos, and videos are credited beneath the media asset, except for promotional images, which generally link to another page that contains the media credit. the rights holder for media is the person or group credited. october 17, 2024 for information on user permissions, please read our terms of service. if you have questions about how to cite anything on our website in your project or classroom presentation, please contact your teacher. they will best know the preferred format. when you reach out to them, you will need the page title, url, and the date you accessed the resource. if a media asset is downloadable, a download button appears in the corner of the media 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supported by the labor and environmental groups are pushing the change so relief funds can be used in more situations. by manuela andreoni dozens of environmental, labor and health care groups banded together on monday to file a petition to push the federal emergency management agency to declare extreme heat and wildfire smoke as “major disasters,” like floods and tornadoes. the petition is a major push to get the federal government to help states and local communities that are straining under the growing costs of climate change. if accepted, the petition could unlock fema funds to help localities prepare for heat waves and wildfire smoke by building cooling centers or installing air filtration systems in schools. the agency could also help during emergencies by paying for water distribution, health screenings for vulnerable people and increased electricity use. “major disaster declarations really open up the broadest pockets of funding that fema has available,” said jean su, a senior attorney with the center for biological diversity, an environmental group, and the lead author of the petition. “state and local governments are severely ill equipped and underfunded to even deal with emergency measures.” the support of major labor groups like the a.f.l. cio and the service employees international union is part of a broader strategy from unions to create protection for the tens of millions of people working outside or without air conditioning during heat waves. unions want the occupational safety and health administration to require employers to protect workers from extreme temperatures. the white house has pushed officials at the labor department, which oversees osha, to publish a draft heat regulation this summer. but major business and industry groups, like the u.s. chamber of commerce, are opposed to any new requirements.

 u.s. army climate change is the major environmental challenge of our time, and we know we must accelerate our efforts to adapt to the impacts that are already unavoidable. we have the technologies and the ingenuity to dramatically lower the emissions that are causing the crisis. a growing number of feasible and effective solutions exist here and now. we must propel them forward, and work toward a future that is more sustainable and just. toward this end, we work in the united states, china, india, and other countries with communities, allies, and decision makers at every level of government to advance policies that will yield deep cuts to carbon pollution, end our dependence on dangerous fossil fuels, and prioritize the people and ecosystems on the frontlines of our changing climate. 1b+ the estimated number of people globally who will be exposed to extreme heat stress if the world's temperature rise reaches 2 degrees celsius 25% the percentage of worldwide human driven emissions caused by the burning of coal, oil, and natural gas to produce electricity and heat, making it the largest single source (followed closely by agriculture and other land uses) countries must embrace and quickly adopt clean energy in order to avoid the worst impacts of the climate crisis. here, technicians work on a transmission tower for china's first tide light complementary photovoltaic power station, which will help to reduce carbon dioxide emissions and coal usage. cfoto/future publishing via getty images though we cannot prevent climate change outright, we can reduce emissions and impacts with solutions that strengthen the resilience of communities and save lives. here are our current priorities: we push for crosscutting climate mandates and work with decision makers to enact them.