Faith and climate leaders convene in Charlotte this week, as the Southeast Climate and Energy Network and US Climate Action Network join forces.
They’re asking the nation to pay its fair share to help communities feeling the worst effects of climate change.
Rev. Michael Malcom is the executive director of the Birmingham, Alabama-based People’s Justice Council.
He pointed out that Black, Brown and other historically vulnerable communities are disproportionately experiencing loss and damage from climate disasters – and are the least likely to have the resources to rebuild.
“All of us in the South, I would say, are aware of the effects of climate change,” said Malcom, “because we are the ones that are being hit – I would say the hardest – particularly in the gulf region.”
Research shows warming global temperatures will likely make parts of the southern U.S. more tropical, fostering the spread of insect-borne diseases and invasive species, extreme temperatures and heavy rain events.
North Carolina ranks in the top five states that have experienced billion dollar weather disasters since 1980.
Susannah Tuttle is the director of the North Carolina Council of Churches Eco-Justice Connection Program, and is community liaison for the USCAN’s Fair Share program.
