Sarah Sanchez was 24 weeks pregnant when a heatwave struck the Twin Cities in June 2020.
Her apartment only had one wall-mounted air conditioner unit. It was too hot to go for her normal walks. She felt uncomfortable and felt a contraction. She called her doctor and went in to see her. She discovered that she was in labor early. Edith, her daughter, was born weighing in at one pound, nine ounces. She spent 111 consecutive days in the newborn intensive unit, where she struggled with several health issues. At a hearing on January 3, Sanchez said Edith is doing well.
Sanchez, who is biracial, believes that her story has something to do with the warming planet and the fact that people of color are often the ones most affected by climate change.
Sanchez said that there’s something bigger at play.
In 2021 Researchers at the University of Minnesota discoveredBlack women with a college education are 1.27x more likely to have premature labor or birth after a heat wave, than white women without a college education.
Sanchez testified at an environmental justice hearing. He acknowledged that poor neighborhoods and communities of color in the United States are more vulnerable to climate change and suffer higher levels pollution. Democrats in Minnesota are pushing to pass bills this year that will invest $1 billion in climate change action statewide. Caucus leaders say it’s a prudent move for a state with a $7 billion surplus, though its unlikely that their Republican counterparts in charge of the state Senate will agree to spend that much on climate.
Representative Fue (DFL-Minneapolis), said that while we recognize the importance of air pollution, it is not shared equally.
Warming Minnesota
Minnesota is getting wetter and warmer. According to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources the past 20 years have been the hottest in state history. Three times more events occur where six inches of rain fall than they did 50 year ago.
According to Frank Kohlasch the environmental justice director of the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, this means more heat, more floods in spring, and more droughts throughout the summer.
We all know these changes will have an impact on us all, but Kohlasch stated that certain communities will be more directly affected.
Roxxanne OBrien of Community Members for Environmental Justice was among those who testified in favor of Lee’s bill that would require the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency to consider effects of past and current pollution before approving a new permit or significantly altering an existing permit in areas identified as Environmental justice communitiesThese communities have higher rates than the state and a higher concentration of diverse residents. Examples include the Near North, East Phillips, White Earth Nation, and Austin, the eastern part of the state.
The bill would also prioritize areas that could be funded with grant money and other initiatives to reduce polluting, such as electric transit buses.
Cecilia Martinez, who was recently removed from her role as the White House’s lead climate justice official and co-founded the Minnesota nonprofit Center for Earth, Energy, and Democracy, stated that it was crucial for states to prioritize disadvantaged communities. She praised the Biden Administrations Initiative Justice40 , which pledges 40 percent of federal sustainability efforts to pollute areas.
She stated that there is an incredible opportunity to make a positive difference in the most marginalized and vulnerable communities in the state.
Broader package
Lee’s bill is an addition to a larger climate package sought by Minnesota Democrats. The caucus published the Minnesota Climate Action Plan last month. It is a $1 billion investment that members claim will save money, protect the environment, and create jobs.
The proposal calls to:
- $105 million in clean-energy investments, including solar energy systems for public buildings and money to support people who are leaving the fossil fuel sector.
- $375 million for transportation such as new bus rapid transit lines, electric buses for school and transit, and walking and biking infrastructure.
- $355 million in upgrading buildings, including a massive investment in weatherization for middle and low-income households, and upgraded heating and cooling systems for public schools.
- $130 million for land improvements like planting five million trees annually and helping farmers create healthier soil by diversifying crops.
- $33.5 million for infrastructure to help cities pay to update stormwater systems to handle increased rainfalls.
Sahan Journal was informed by Jamie Long, DFL-Minneapolis, who chairs the climate finance committee. He said that the caucus believes that a $1 billion climate investment is necessary and feasible at a time when the state is struggling to make ends meet. $7.7 billion budget surplus. He said that lawmakers sought to share investments based upon need after consulting with experts.
Although Governor Tim Walz supports this package, the Senate Republican-led by Republicans will have to cooperate with it in order for it to be passed. Republican leaders have stated that they will prioritize tax reductions and grants to recruit new police officers. MinnPost reported.
