On March 31, the Biden administration released the American Jobs Plan, which establishes broad goals for achieving a cleaner and more equitable future, including significant investments in green jobs like caregiving and clean energy infrastructure. On April 22—Earth Day—Biden further raised the stakes, committing the U.S. to cutting greenhouse gas emissions by at least 50 percent below 2005 levels by 2030. Even still, there are legislators at local, state and federal levels that continue to deny climate change as real.

Meanwhile, in Flint, Michigan, after a five-year water crisis, reports say the water is now clean—but many locals still refuse to drink it to this day, due to a loss of trust.

How do global warming and other environmental concerns affect the lives of listeners in coastal areas, or those who live near waste sites, or in areas where environmental concerns are hidden? What does environmental and climate justice look like? 

Now that the U.S. has reentered the Paris Climate Agreement, what next steps must be taken to address climate change and environmental injustice here at home? What can we expect from the Biden-Harris administration? 
 
Helping us to sort out these questions and more are very special guests:

• Nourbese Flint, a program manager with Black Women for Wellness, where she directs environmental and reproductive health work, organizes community advocacy and works on policy. In addition, Nourbese serves as the head of civic engagement with Californians for a Healthy and Green Economy, is founding member of Trust Black Women, and an active member of the Women’s Intercultural Network. 
• Osprey Orielle Lake, founder and executive director of the Women's Earth and Climate Action Network (WECAN) International. She is co-director of the Indigenous Women's Divestment Delegations, was the visionary behind the International Women’s Earth and Climate Summit, and co-founded the International Women’s Earth and Climate Initiative, the precursor initiative of WECAN International. She is the author of the award-winning book, Uprisings for the Earth: Reconnecting Culture with Nature.

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Check out this episode’s landing page at MsMagazine.com for a full transcript, links to articles referenced in this episode, further reading and ways to take action.

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