By The opinion
Both climate change and the impact of pollution affect Latinos in the United States and are considered among the issues that will decide the Latino vote in the 2024 elections.
The majority of Latinos in the United States believe that global climate change is a major concern and affects their local community at least in part.
Latinos widely support policy measures to address climate change and other environmental issues that have been taken by the government of Democratic President Joe Biden, who is running for a second term in the 2024 elections against former Republican President Donald Trump.
Many Latinos have also said they are willing to help making changes in your lifestyle to reduce pollution and the impact of climate changeor, according to a Pew Research Center survey conducted in 2021.
Although Trump has called climate change a “hoax” and promises to roll back the progress President Biden has made to protect our planet, it is worth remembering once again that Trump does not care about Latinos, who are disproportionately affected by climate change.
Trump’s promise to reverse the Inflation Reduction Act signed into law by Biden and its refusal to acknowledge the reality of climate change, It is a threat to Latinos, who are more likely to live in areas with higher levels of exposure to air pollution.
The Biden administration rescinded Trump-era environmental rules that worsened pollution impacts on Latino communities, and President Biden and Vice President Harris restored key protections that Trump removed.
The Hispanic Media Director of the Democratic National Committee (DNC), Marco Frieri, issued the following statement highlighting What’s at stake for Latino families across the country in the 2024 elections:
“For Latinos, there has never been a shred of doubt that climate change is real. Not when we watch our children suffer asthma attacks as a result of air pollution or lose work hours (and therefore wages) due to record heat. It is clear that our community is disproportionately affected by the effects of pollution and climate change. So when Trump calls climate change a “hoax,” promotes dangerous climate conspiracy theories, and does everything in his power to dismantle basic environmental protections, we know he is endangering our lives and our livelihoods.”
Frieri highlighted in his statement how Latinos will benefit from re-electing Biden for a second term in the White House in the 2024 elections.
“President Biden is tackling the climate crisis by investing in new, sustainable industries that protect jobs and our planet through the most ambitious environmental and climate legislation in American history, the Inflation Reduction Act. Latinos deserve a president who offers real climate solutions and prioritizes environmental justice; only Joe Biden is that president,” Frieri said.
How climate change affects Latinos and other minorities
Climate change and pollution have enormous impacts on communities of color in the United States:
- Contaminated water is more common and studies show that people of color are more vulnerable to wildfires and environmental disasters caused by climate change.
- Latinos are also more likely to suffer the health and economic impacts of climate change and air pollution.
- A recently released Harvard study found that majority Hispanic, Black and Asian neighborhoods across the country are consistently exposed to higher levels of particulate pollution.
- Climate change and exposure to pollutants also cause increased displacement, loss of wealth, and long-term health problems for people of color.
- By the numbers: 81% of Latinos in the United States consider addressing global climate change a priority, compared to 67% of non-Hispanics, according to a Pew Research Center survey.
Keep reading:
– Administrator Casillas Guzmán: clean energy creates opportunities for Latinos
– Climate justice will be a priority for Latinos in 2024
– Latino voters prioritize the economy ahead of the 2024 elections, a survey revealed