Earth day 2023

Latinos have a long history of being stewards of the earth and living off the land. LULAC--the nation’s oldest Latino civil rights organization-- wants to continue this legacy of environmentalism and support sustainable policies that protect the environment and public health.

The LULAC National Assembly passed an environmental justice resolution called the Declaration of the Principles of Environmental Justice and the Environmental Bill of Rights in Latino Communities in the United States. This resolution advocated for environmental justice and climate change action on all levels of government. LULAC councils proudly stood alongside the residents of Standing Rock. LULAC also supports efforts to strengthen existing legislation to protect water sources from pollution, protect communities from exposure to toxic chemicals, and increase oversight on companies participating in activities that may endanger natural resources. LULAC supports the Clean Power Plan, the Clean Water Rule, and legislation to curtail emissions contributing to climate change.

But the fight is not over!

Environmental justice and racial inequity are intertwined issues. In recent years Latinos around the United States and the world have been disproportionately impacted by rebuilding efforts natural disasters have caused. According to the American Lung Association, over half of all U.S. Latinos live in the country’s most polluted cities. Latino communities are more likely to be located near pollution sites. We must advocate for climate and environmental justice solutions. We ask that the current administration continue implementing policies that include protections for clean air, clean energy, and clean water at the local, state, and national levels and address the unequal impact of pollution on black and brown communities. “Accelerating solutions to combat our greatest threat, climate change, and to activate everyone — governments, citizens, and businesses — to do their part“ – Earth Day Org.

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About LULAC
The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) is the nation’s largest and oldest civil rights volunteer-based organization that empowers Hispanic Americans and builds strong Latino communities. Headquartered in Washington, DC, with 1,000 councils around the United States and Puerto Rico, LULAC’s programs, services and advocacy address the most important issues for Latinos, meeting critical needs of today and the future. For more information, visit www.LULAC.org.