The borough of Brooklyn, as is true all over the world, faces the accelerating climate crisis with both particular vulnerabilities and particular resources. Some of our neighborhoods–often neighborhoods whose residents are predominantly people of color– have long-standing burdens of pollution from industrial infrastructure, burdens that are now exacerbated by climate burdens.
Brooklyn’s coastline is vulnerable to rising sea levels and some of its neighborhoods are so paved over and bare of tree cover that they are heat islands in summer. Our sewer system can’t cope with extreme downpours, and so streets and basements flood.. And yet, we also have parks, street trees, and salt marshes that mitigate extreme weather; farmers markets, thrift stores, and refill stores that are opportunities to lower consumption; and a wealth of organizations and mutual aid groups working to make Brooklyn healthier, safer, and less productive of greenhouse gas emissions. These are our communities, our families’ communities, and our neighbors’ communities, and we bear responsibility to continuously fight for climate justice and climate solutions for all.
If you want to learn more about the issues facing Brooklyn communities and the organizations helping to bring just and equitable solutions, take a look through the following resources.
