WASHINGTON — Hurricane Helene has wreaked havoc across multiple states, leaving behind widespread destruction. Once again, we see marginalized communities bearing the brunt of a climate-change fueled strom with inadequate resources and no clear path to recovery. Hip Hop Caucus’ Think 100% Associate Senior Director Jasmine Gil issued the following statement:
“First and foremost, our thoughts are with the communities impacted by Hurricane Helene. We stand in solidarity with those who have lost homes, livelihoods, and loved ones. In the week since Hurricane Helene struck, we’ve witnessed immense devastation, and its aftermath continues to reveal the glaring need for climate action and environmental justice. Warming temperatures, fueled by our harmful dependence on fossil fuels, supercharged this storm, and yet, our government has failed to meaningfully address climate change and done little to prepare or protect those at the greatest risk from its effects.
As we approach the INC-5 global plastic treaty negotiations this November, we must recognize the intrinsic link between the fossil fuel industry, the pollution the industry creates (such as plastic products), climate change, and environmental justice. Plastic production not only contributes significantly to greenhouse gas emissions, it also disproportionately impacts marginalized communities.
We are nearly two decades post-Hurricane Katrina and little has changed. If anything, we’ve significantly increased our dependence on these issues while decreasing the resources we should be investing back into communities. The same communities that already endure environmental racism and economic hardship–are once again being left to fend for themselves. The slow rollout of relief efforts, coupled with a failure to hold polluters accountable, shows that our leaders (both state and federal) need to make more decisions that address the root causes of climate change. The time for half measures and empty promises is over.
As communities across the Southeast begin the long road to recovery, Hip Hop Caucus urges policymakers to recognize that we need bold, immediate action to provide relief and systemic change to prevent these disasters from continuing to devastate our communities. Climate action is not optional—it’s a matter of justice.”
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