In Focus: Environmental justice and Minnesota’s climate future

Minnesotans are fighting climate change. Whether it’s taking coal-fired power plants offline, trading in gas guzzlers for electric cars or installing solar panels, there are concrete steps to repair the damage.

But at the same time, we need to acknowledge that the impact pollution has on low-income neighborhoods, Indigenous peoples and communities of color is often really out of proportion. And we know that burden will grow even more heavy as climate change continues.  

The good news is many Minnesota groups are working to right these wrongs. What does environmental justice look like to them? What issues are they most concerned about? And how do advocates who’ve been working on environmental justice for decades think Minnesota is doing when it comes to fixing this inequity?  

MPR News host Twila Dang hosted this virtual discussion exploring some of the meaningful and culturally specific ways environmental justice is being addressed in our state.

Panelists:

• Sharon M. Day is the executive director of the Indigenous Peoples Task Force.

• Theresa “Tee” McClenty is the executive director of MN350.

• Francisco Segovia is the executive director of COPAL, a grassroots statewide organization whose mission is to unite Latinxs in Minnesota in active grassroots communal democracy that builds racial, gender, social and economic justice across community lines.