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| Thilmeeza Hussain, Ramapo College World Sustainability Professor |
By Lily Makhlouf
If action is not taken soon, the climate refugee
crisis that threatens people in island nations and drought-affected areas will
continue to grow to the millions. The effect of such a crisis will be felt
around the world.
That’s the message that World Sustainability Professor Thilmeeza Hussain delivered at
the “Clean Energy for a Brighter Future” conference on March 28 that Food &
Water Watch and the Andrew Goodman Foundation hosted at Ramapo College. The
event included a panel discussion on steps individuals and groups at the local
level could take to make our legislators act to ensure a transition to 100%
renewable energy by 2035 for the state of New Jersey. In attendance at the
event were students, faculty, organizations, and members of the local
community.
Matt Smith of Food & Water Watch was the host of
the event, while Assemblyman and Ramapo alum Tim Eustace gave a strong opening
speech to the audience. Eustace has been vocal about his support for
progressive climate action in New Jersey and has pledged support to Off Fossil
Fuels, a project by Food & Water Watch that puts political pressure on
elected officials for 100% renewable energy policies.
The panel was made up of three speakers—Thilmeeza
Hussain, Kevin D. Moore, and Scott Edwards. Each panelist had a unique perspective
on climate change issues and policy that sparked intrigue and valuable
questions.
Thilmeeza Hussain is a professor of World
Sustainability at Ramapo College and former Deputy Permanent Ambassador for the
U.N. in the Maldives. Hussain shared the background of climate effects in
Maldives. She spoke about the fact that island countries like the Maldives are
disproportionately affected by climate change because of vulnerability to
rising sea level. One of her concerns is that our climate actions, including
the Paris Climate Agreement, are not aggressive enough because they support
only bottom-up action. Stricter policies need to be enacted by governments to
ensure that vulnerable communities are well equipped and protected from the
effects of climate change.
The second panelist to speak was Kevin D. Moore, the
Climate Coordinator for the New Jersey Environmental Justice Alliance, an
organization that aims to prevent pollution and provide support to
“Environmental Justice” communities. EJ communities are most often communities
of People of Color and indigenous citizens. These communities are disproportionately
affected by the impact of climate change and pollution.
In Newark, an EJ community, the number of cases of
childhood asthma is alarmingly high. Moore explained that this is due to the
communities’ proximity to particle pollution that is produced by commercial and
industrial plants. More affluent communities typically don’t have to deal with
rates of health crises because they can afford to have polluters far away from
their backyards. But in low-income areas, people have no choice but to deal
with the problems in their backyards. The NJEJA aims to support these
vulnerable communities and support legislation and policies that will put an
end to harmful polluters through stricter regulation and a commitment to 100%
renewable energy for a cleaner future in all communities.
The third panelist was Scott Edwards, the
National Climate and Energy Program Director for Food and Water Watch. Edwards
discussed Food and Water Watch’s approach to 100% renewable energy, which
differs from many other climate action policies because it calls for a more
aggressive approach.
Edwards said that such acts like RGGI, Regional
Greenhouse Gas Initiative, are not strict enough on fossil fuel polluters.
Policies like cap and trade and carbon taxes allow fossil fuel companies to buy
credits or pay their way to keep on polluting. Rather than take this approach,
Edwards stated that strict legislation, similar to standards in the Clean Air
and Clean Water Acts of the early 1970s, needs to be enforced so that polluters
are thoroughly regulated. If a fossil fuel company is violating a certain
regulation, a government agency could fine it and eventually shut it down if it
continues to violate. This type of legislation would ensure that no fossil fuel
company gets its way by paying money to continue polluting.
After the panelists spoke, a question and answer
discussion was held that expanded on climate policy, environmental justice, and
the path to 100% renewables for New Jersey. The greatest takeaway from the
event is the fact that as citizens we must take action and reach out to our
legislators and let them know where we stand on climate policy and renewable
energy—we must make our voices heard and demand change for a better future.
Lily Makhlouf is a senior majoring in environmental studies at Ramapo College of New Jersey.
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