The Intersection of Climate Change and Racism in the Southern US

The US South bears the brunt of the climate crisis in the nation, with hurricanes, sea level rise, tornadoes, severe storms with heavy rains and flooding, along with drought, affecting millions of people and their homes, land, waters, farms, and livelihoods. Racism and economic injustice cause these impacts to fall disproportionately on Black, brown, and low-wealth communities, and young and Native peoples, and the Southern U.S.

This workshop will explore how SAL tools help build and strengthen movements in the South (and beyond) to address climate change, racial and environmental justice, and to heal divisions resulting from racism and environmental harm. In this workshop, we will:

★ Share the key challenges facing frontline communities in the South as they address the climate crisis and racism.
★ Share how the path for ending the climate crisis and racial injustice in the U.S. runs through this region, and Southern successes so far.
★Share about the disproportionate impacts of climate change and environmental racism on the Gulf South and the central role that region plays in the transition away from fossil fuels.
★ Examine how racism affects our efforts to build and sustain efforts to respond to the climate emergency.
★ Share the approaches used by Sustaining All Life and United to End Racism to heal from the damage of racism and other oppressions, strengthen our effectiveness in the climate justice movement, and prevent division and burnout.