Did you know some urban neighborhoods in Nashville can be up to 17 degrees hotter than in nearby rural areas? Moreover, communities of color are more likely to live in hotter places, putting them at greater risk for heat-related deaths and injuries.
Climate change refers to long-term shifts in temperatures and weather patterns. Since the Industrial Revolution, human activity has been the main driver of climate change, primarily due to burning fossil fuels like coal, oil, and gas.
Sustainability exists at the intersection of society, the environment, and the economy. Rather than perfection or shame, living sustainably is based on making decisions that preserve natural ecosystems we rely on.
Environmental justice stems from wanting all people to have access to a healthy environment regardless of who they are and aims to ensure all people receive the same amount of protection from environmental and health hazards and access to clean environments to live, learn, and work.