The Just Solutions Podcast

In this episode, we analyze the intersection of 2SLGBTQI+ identity and climate justice, exploring the unique vulnerabilities and potential opportunities for policy intervention for these communities. Our guest host Idalmis Vaquero (she/her), Senior Policy Analyst at Just Solutions, speaks to Leo Goldsmith (he/they), a climate & health scientist and doctoral student at the Yale School of the Environment where they study...

In this episode, we delve into the fundamentals of the electricity grid and its implications for environmental justice communities. As debates surrounding clean energy and climate change increase, understanding the grid's role becomes increasingly critical. We speak with Lew Daly, Senior Fellow at Just Solutions as he sheds light on the intersection of energy justice and grid resilience and highlights the urgent need f...

In this episode, we delve into the critical issue of water access and safety in the U.S. and how related policies impact environmental justice communities. We are joined by Jeremy Orr, Director of Litigation and Advocacy Partnerships at Earthjustice, who sheds light on the pressing challenges faced by BIPOC-Frontline communities in accessing safe, clean, and quality water. We discuss how existing legislation like the S...

As the frequency of climate disasters increases, the cumulative impacts of environmental, economic, and social problems make the burdens and effects of these disasters and the recovery process worse for Black, Indigenous, people of color, and people with lower incomes. In this episode, we speak with Dr. Cristina Muñoz de la Torre, Senior Researcher at Just Solutions, exploring the nuances of disaster resilience and its...

The Inflation Reduction Act’s tax credit opportunities represent a significant aspect of the IRA and account for the majority of the policy’s spending commitments to communities and individuals. In this episode, we speak with Sylvia Chi, Senior Policy Analyst at Just Solutions, about exactly how the tax credits and related programming impact BIPOC-Frontline EJ Communities. Join us as we examine the scale of these tax c...

Electric vehicles play a crucial role in fostering a just transition that broadens communities' access to healthier transportation choices. However, electric vehicle policies and implementation strategies must center the needs and priorities of environmental justice communities in order to truly be equitable and effective. In this episode, we speak with Janelle London and Matthew Metz, Co-Executive Directors at Coltura...

In this episode, we explore the Healthy Environment for All (HEAL) Act, a Washington State model policy that aims to address environmental justice and help facilitate a just transition. Join us as we speak with Guillermo Rogel Jr, Legislative Advocate, and Deric Gruen, Co-Executive Director of Programs and Policy at Front and Centered. Front and Centered is a powerful coalition of communities of color-led groups across...

Across the nation, communities have faced an increasingly unstable utility reality as expenses rise and shut-offs become more common. In this episode, we explore what utility justice can look like for millions of Americans who find themselves in the crosshairs of profit-driven energy companies. Join us as we speak with Yesenia Rivera, Executive Director of Energy Allies, a woman of color-led nonprofit that is revolutio...

In this episode, we explore the unique climate and environmental implications that Black communities across the U.S. face and the importance of centering these experiences in our collective advocacy. We are joined by Jacqui Patterson, Executive Director of The Chisholm Legacy Project, a vehicle to connect Black communities on the frontlines of climate justice with resources and the tools necessary to advance systems ch...

The state of Mississippi is shaped by its distinctive historical, political, and social context as well as the unique climate issues that impact communities. Join us in this episode, we speak with Dr. Catherine Robinson, program manager of One Voice Mississippi, to understand  the intersection of these factors and their profound impact on Mississippi's climate landscape. Discover how community-centered solutions, such ...

In this episode, we're delving into Carbon Capture Use and Sequestration (CCUS), frequently hailed as a key component of the environmental movement. In this episode, Energy Scientist, Dr. Arjun Makhijani returns to shed light on the technology driving CCUS and unveil the nuanced realities behind this touted "solution." Join us as we critically examine CCUS's alignment with climate justice objectives and explore alterna...

In 2023, the State of California introduced new legislation to provide grant funding in advance of projects to state grantees including community-based organizations, nonprofits, and small businesses. This new, equity-centered law allows small organizations to benefit from grant pools without having to wait for reimbursements for their projects. Join us for a conversation with Emi Wang, Director of Capacity Building at Greenlining ...

Electrification is a pressing issue in the climate space, but its implications for environmental justice communities remain a critical aspect to be understood. In this episode, we sit down with Jamal Lewis, Director of State & Local Policy at Rewiring America, to delve into the profound impact of electrification on achieving climate justice. Join us as we unravel the fundamentals of electrification, the role of policy,...

In this episode, we discuss the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) recent increase in funding for environmental justice and civil rights initiatives. Our guests Robin Morris Collins, Senior Advisor to the Administrator for Environmental Justice at the EPA, and Jacob Burney, Division Director of the Office of Environmental Justice and External Civil Rights Grants Management Division shed light on the potential impa...

Most advocates recognize that labor transitions play a crucial role in conversations about climate justice. However, the question remains: How can we create a future that builds upon the strengths of labor and environmental justice to achieve a just climate future for everyone? In this episode, we speak with Jeff Johnson, former President of the Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO, and current board member of the L...

Communities have been implementing alternatives to the corporate utility model for decades. Community Choice, as it's known, offers local communities different options when it comes to how their utility needs are serviced and how much they cost. In this episode, we speak with energy justice expert, Jessica Tovar, Energy Democracy Organizer with Local Clean Energy Alliance and a member of Just Solution’s Steering Commit...

In 2018, the Portland Clean Energy Fund showed us what’s possible when we implement community-centered and created policies for environmental justice. Five years later, we connect with Oregon State Representative Khanh Pham to hear the lessons learned from the creation, campaign, and implementation of the Fund and opportunities for cities and communities to replicate the model. 

RESOURCES TO LEARN MORE:

What role does nuclear energy play in the climate justice movement? How does nuclear energy impact the lived experiences of environmental justice communities? Hear from Energy Scientist, Dr. Arjun Makhijani about why we shouldn’t depend on nuclear energy to save the planet, and what other solutions we can look to instead.  

RESOURCES TO LEARN MORE:

Make it Make Sense: Not Renewable and Not...

Welcome to the Just Solution Podcast, hosted by Just Solutions, where we will explore relevant projects, policies, and stories from the perspective of the communities most impacted by climate change – Black, Indigenous, People of Color, and those with lower incomes. In this Podcast, we will be diving into the things you need to know about climate justice.

Just Solutions is BIPOC-led and works to broaden ...