Frontline Latina Voices Leading Climate Action

In this blog post, our Aspen Latinos Communications Intern, Sydney Patterson, shares her transformative experience at Aspen Ideas: Climate in Miami, spotlighting the vital role of frontline Latinas in redefining the climate change discourse. Through their leadership and innovation, these women are championing sustainable and culturally responsive solutions. Aspen Latinos remain steadfast in our commitment to ensure Latino perspectives and voices are integral to shaping our collective environmental future.

What happens when we reconnect with impacted communities and turn fear-mongering into positive storytelling? Can an intentional narrative change yield solutions for a more vibrant, responsive, careful economy and planet? I am confident it's part of the equation.

It's March 2024 and Miami, FL, a city at the forefront of the climate emergency with a vibrant Latin-American presence, is buzzing with beach-goers, nightlife, locals and tourists alike, taking in the balmy spring Florida weather. Meanwhile, an equally vibrant energy is taking place around the corner at the annual Aspen Ideas: Climate conference. The Aspen Institute aims to drive change through meaningful dialogue. With conversations from over 150 speakers and 1,500+ attendees weighing the challenges and solutions for the climate crisis, we are left wondering about the deeper impacts on frontline communities, like the Latino community, disproportionately affected by climate change. Some of the main themes from the conference like "Narratives of Change" or "Healthy Planet, Healthy Community" prompted several Latina climate leaders to show how they're shifting the narrative to an asset-focused approach and driving personalized solutions to climate challenges.

Nancy Sutley Transforming the Future of Sustainability

The impact of dramatic climate change on regions like South Florida is profound, exacerbating existing physical and economic vulnerabilities. To underscore this point, "55% of Latino-Americans live in three [U.S.] states that are already experiencing serious effects related to climate change: historic drought in California, record-breaking heat in Texas, and increased sea level rise and flooding in Florida."[1] Considering this, Nancy Sutley, Deputy Mayor of Energy and Sustainability for the City of Los Angeles, suggests we need to "think holistically about the solutions for drier, warmer climates" starting by reforming outdated green infrastructure policy models.

Response: Whether reducing the dependency on fossil-fuel energy, preserving and reclaiming the local water supply for Los Angeles, or kickstarting the La Kretz Innovation Campus, these are just a few iterations of how her expertise guides important sustainability policy to meet the needs of both current and future generations. By recognizing the interplay between climate and socioeconomic challenges, Sutley's commitment to improving the livelihoods of those most impacted creates stronger, more resilient communities.

At the Institute, human-centered conversations are what motivate the specific policy change we need in order to maintain a cooperative, safe, and habitable planet. The Inflation Reduction Act, referenced several times throughout the summit, has already created more than 170,000 clean energy jobs with the expectation of 1.5 million over the next decade. Yet, it still bears reminding that policy and narratives alike are subject to change. [2]

So, how do we keep the momentum going? By intentionally expanding climate narratives to include minority voices, we can better assess the gaps and opportunities to inform both policy-makers and the public.

Yessenia Funes Advocates for Reframing Climate Narratives

While experts emphasize the need for holistic policy reforms, communities are voicing their concerns about urgently addressing some of the most immediate effects of climate change. 81% of U.S. Latinos report that climate change is a top concern for them given it can directly impact their income, job security, health, and personal safety. [3] Climate journalist Yessenia Funes focuses her work on the relationship between climate emergencies and immigration which is often characterized by slower onset changes like sea level rise and water scarcity. [4]

Response: Her journalism draws attention back to often overlooked communities and provides important context to climate narratives. Whether it's immediate severe weather or gradual climate changes, it can displace Latinos and other underserved communities from their homes or leave them stranded in a region without enough infrastructure, resources, or job opportunities to support them.

But this isn't exclusive to the U.S. In fact, similar trend data within the last three years points out that "Latin America - especially Central America - has been among the top sources of climate migration in recent years. The report estimates the region could see up to 17 million people migrate due to climate change by 2050." [2]

(Scroll down for more resources on anti-displacement efforts)

Mirei Endara de Heras Empowers Communities Through Personalized Solutions

U.S. Latinas and Latinos face numerous socioeconomic challenges as it is, which makes the compounded impacts of climate change a considerable threat multiplier. Despite these concerns, those closest to the problems are often closest to the solutions - and the Latino community is determined to be part of the solution. While "Latinos are more likely to work in the industries that are deeply affected by the effects of climate change such as agriculture, manufacturing, and construction," [1] a national poll conducted by the former National Council of La Raza (now UnidosUS) found that 87% of Latinos surveyed would prefer to work in a clean energy industry than at a fossil fuel company or an oil refinery, assuming equal wages and benefits." [1]

Response: Aspen's first Executive Director of the Fundación Central America Leadership Initiative, Mirei Endara de Heras from Panama, is actively working to establish more trust-based relationships with the adjacent communities through her marine and coastal cleanup initiatives in places like the Juan Díaz river or the Panama Bay Wildlife Refuge. Each climate-affected community is different, but by listening to locals in each region about their concerns and priorities - whether it is to prevent more flooding in Río Abajo or improve walkability in Costa del Este - replicated solutions can become more personalized, and therefore more effective. [5] This type of approach is not only effective, but opens opportunities for "higher wages, lower health impacts for workers and the surrounding communities, and an ever-increasing number of job opportunities." [1]

Limiting diversity limits perspectives"- Adriane Alicea, Deputy Director of Green 2.0, Moderator at Aspen Climate

Takeaways

As we contemplate this year's Aspen Ideas programming and strategize our next five to ten years, it's imperative we take away lessons to improve policy, cultural, and information-sharing that expand the net of solutions throughout the Latin American diaspora. This issue is particularly urgent for rising generations, especially for US Latinos, where the median age is just 29 years old - 9 years younger than the median US age. [6] Young people, who have inherited this global issue, must play a central role in shaping climate education, driving conversations, and crafting solutions. As a member of Gen Z and a native Floridian, I am convinced the future of our communities and our planet depends on our collective responsibility to challenge this head-on.

In climate crisis communities across California, Texas, and Florida - home to more than half of US Latinos - the need for the Latino voice is undeniable. Mirei Endara de Heras, Nancy Sutley, Yessenia Funes and others are a reflection of the kind of leaders inspiring ingenuity and commitment to overcome climate threats for the common good. By providing an open platform to frontline communities, Aspen Ideas programming contributes to driving impactful and culturally responsive solutions to one of our century's greatest challenges. For the first time in a while, I left climate conversations with a renewed sense of hope.

Looking to get involved?

Aspen Institute Youth-Focused Programs

1. Future Leaders Climate Summit - Aspen Energy & Environment Program
2. Planet Ed: K-12 Curriculum
3. Aspen Young Leaders Fellowship
4. Aspen Stevens Initiative - Mobilizing Youth
5. The Aspen Challenge

Local & National Organizations Addressing Climate-Related Displacement

1. Latino Climate Justice Framework(National)
2. Climate Displacement Working Group -RCUSA(National)
3. Greenlining the Block(CA, CO, NC, IL, MI)
4. TX Community Climate Ambassadors(TX)
5. Miami-Dade Sea Level Rise Strategy(FL)

Other

UNOPS: COP29 - Youth at the CMP Application(Deadline September 1, 2024)

Citations

[1] EDF. (2017). Latino Communities and Climate Change: Why we care and what we can do. Latinos and Climate Change Factsheet. Retrieved 2024, from https://www.edf.org/sites/default/files/content/latinos_and_climate_change_factsheet_0317_refresh.pdf

[2] Climate Power. (2023, July 25). One Year of Our Clean Energy Boom. Clean Energy Boom Anniversary Report. Retrieved 2024, from https://climatepower.us/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2023/07/Clean-Energy-Boom-Anniversary-Report-1.pdf

[3] Mora, L., & Lopez, M. H. (2021, October 4). Most U.S. Latinos say global climate change and other environmental issues impact their local communities. Pew Research Center. https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2021/10/04/most-u-s-latinos-say-global-climate-change-and-other-environmental-issues-impact-their-local-communities/

[4] Funes, Y. (2024, January 24). What's Ahead on Climate justice, Climate Crisis Beat. SEJ. https://www.sej.org/publications/voices-environmental-justice/what-s-ahead-climate-justice-climate-crisis-beat

[5] McNulty Foundation. (2023). How Marea Verde is Modeling a Holistic Solution to the Plastic Pollution Problem. McNulty Foundation. https://mcnultyfound.org/impact/stories/marea-verde

[6] USAFacts Team. (2022, April 18). The Hispanic population has quadrupled in the past four decades. it is also becoming more diverse. USAFacts. https://usafacts.org/articles/demographics-hispanic-americans/

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