Environmental Justice News

In this Newsletter:

• Climate Change and EJ Communities
• On The Front Lines
• Community Spotlight
• Weatherization Tips
• Sustainable Holiday Ideas
• Reminders

All articles in this bulletin reduced for space. To read any article in its entirety, visit our updates page.

Climate Change and Environmental Justice

Certain groups of people could face a disproportionate risk from climate change impacts. These groups include low-income households, communities of color, immigrants, limited English proficient groups, indigenous peoples, children and pregnant women, the elderly, people with disabilities, and people with chronic medical conditions. From an increase in respiratory problems and potential increases in Type 2 diabetes to increased instances of strokes and car crashes in high traffic areas, climate change is a threat to our environment and our health.

Learn more about how New York is taking on the challenges presented by climate change and increasing community resilience.

On The Front Lines: Sarah Saucier

Sarah is the project manager of the Saranac Lake Gas Company Superfund site, a former manufactured gas plant site in one of the Adirondack Parks most popular destinations. Learn more about Sarah’s work and other stories about our staff with the On the Front Lines series.

Community Spotlight: United Community Center

Governor Cuomo announced Green Jobs for Youth in 2017 as a part of his aggressive environmental justice platform. United Community Centers, Inc., a social justice-driven community center and a recipient of $100,000 from OEJ’s Green Jobs for Youth grant, is working to create opportunities for youth to gain urban agriculture skills in their local Brooklyn community. Their East New York Farms! Project partners with the U.S. Forest Service to train 30 youth interns to work in 20 different gardens and two farms in East New York this spring.

Learn more about our grant opportunities.

Tips for Weatherizing Your Home

The cold chill of winter can have an equally chilling effect on your heating bills and overall health. If stressing about monstrously high heating rates makes you shiver, here are a few low-cost ideas to keep the cold air outside and more of your money in your wallet:

• Make sure your heat sources aren’t blocked
  • Move furniture away from radiators and air vents
• Look for any gaps at bottom of your doors and windows and seal them
• Use a ceiling fan, if you have one
  • Setting a ceiling fan on reverse forces warmer air down and distributes it throughout the room

For more tips to learn how to save energy and cut costs, visit www.energystar.gov.

Sustainable Holiday Ideas

It’s not easy being green, especially around the holidays. From excessive purchases to disposable dinnerware, wasted food, and high electricity bills, the holiday season takes a toll on the environment and your bank account. However, there are many opportunities for the consumer to be choose more sustainable options during the holiday season. Remember, the best way to have a sustainable holiday is to simplify, which will reduce your costs, stress, and waste. Check out some tips you might want to try.

Reminders

Conservationist Magazine Sale

Need a last-minute gift for that environmentally conscious person? Give them a subscription to the Conservationist. Published six times a year, our New York State-focused magazine is filled with informative and entertaining articles covering a broad range of environmental and natural history-related topics, including fishing, hiking, outdoor recreation, travel, hunting, and nature studies. Subscribe or renew today!

First Day Hikes 

Looking to get outdoors more often in 2019? Well, don’t let winter’s chill keep you locked indoors, kick the New Year off with an outdoor excursion. DEC and State Parks are sponsoring dozens of guided hikes on public lands across the state. You can register to join one of these family friendly walks on our website, or visit Parks to see what they have available.

Summer Camp Registration

 It’s never too early to start thinking about Summer. DEC’s Environmental Education Camp registration opens January 23, 2019. DEC camps combine environmental education, hunter education programs, and outdoor recreation into an adventurous experience. We use a fun, hands-on approach to teach campers about the environment. A week at one of our amazing camps is a great after-Christmas
gift.

Looking for an Exciting Environmental Career?

The Excelsior Conservation Corps (ECC) is seeking applicants to work on infrastructure and sustainability, invasive species removal, trail construction, and other amazing environmental conservation-related projects.

The ECC is a 10-month residential AmeriCorp program created in 2015 by Gov. Cuomo and is designed to address the state’s environmental conservation needs while providing leadership opportunities, employment training, and college scholarships to young people interested in environmental issues.

Applicants must be between the ages of 18 and 25 (Veteran applicants up to 28), and must pass a background check. Please visit SCA Excelsior Conservation Corps for more details or to submit an application.

Are You Looking for Grant Funding?

OEJ offers grants for community-based organizations looking to address environmental harms in low-income and environmental justice communities.

Contact Us

Join the Environmental Justice listserve to receive regular updates from OEJ.

E-mail us with any concerns or questions. Please include:

• Your location/address
• City, town, village or borough
• The environmental concerns you wish to address
• List the potential source if you know
• How or whether you wish to be contacted