As New Jersey and other states lead nationwide efforts to address climate change, they are recognizing the disproportionate impact that climate change has on disadvantaged populations, according to a new Rutgers report.
The challenges and opportunities states face are surveyed in “Field Notes: Equity and State Climate Policy,” part of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) project series.
“Climate change has a disproportionate impact on low-income individuals, communities of color and indigenous residents. And under-resourced communities pay a disproportionate amount for energy,” said co-author Jeanne Herb, executive director of the Environmental Analysis & Communications Group at the Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy.