ClimateVoices Featuring Nalleli Cobo

Special Leading Activist Voices Series! As the first in a series of special ClimateVoices interviews to mark the run up to this year, I am excited to talk with the dynamic Los Angeles environmental activist Nalleli Cobo . At age 19, Nalleli led a coalition to permanently shut down a toxic oil drilling site that was causing serious health issues in her community – and got the local government to take action. She’s a 2022 Goldman Environmental Prize Winner, and was also named to TIME ’s list of new leaders in 2022.

What signs of progress have you seen in the last few years in the struggle for environmental justice, and what are the issues facing frontline communities today?

A victory we have had within my community is the permanent closing of Allenco Energy in 2020, making Allenco Energy the first urban oil well to be permanently closed in the nation! Historic change! Another progress we have achieved within years of tireless activism against urban oil extraction and environmental racism is the Los Angeles historic vote. On December 2, 2022, the Los Angeles City Council and County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to phase out all oil and gas wells in the city with a just transition within the next 20 years. My community is working on getting the land clean and detoxified and then giving back to the community. We believe we deserve to choose what the land will be used for next; a park, school, community garden, affordable housing, or anything but a toxic silent killer.?

What can individuals – including in their role as employees of big companies – do to accelerate progress toward environmental justice?

We all can take steps in our day-to-day lives to help reverse the climate crisis. The first step is education and awareness. We can't create change if we don't know what is wrong and have an idea of a better solution. Another important step is listening to frontline community members, uplifting our stories, and allowing us a safe space to share what is happening in our communities and what we are doing to change it. We need to remember not one person is solely responsible for reversing the climate crisis; we all have an essential part to play. My mom says the climate crisis is like a puzzle; every person is a unique piece that only they can add to the puzzle. If we all do our part and unite as a community to create change, we will be unstoppable!

What’s the biggest barrier that you’ve seen in your work that is currently standing in the way of us shifting to a clean energy economy?

The fossil fuel industry plays a significant role in delaying climate justice. With constant lobbying, wordplay, and various tactics, they continue to attempt to reverse all of our progress thus far.

In Big Tech, they call me a “shit stirrer” – and I love that nickname. What’s your moniker?

In middle school, they called me the “oil well girl.” I always thought it was funny since I'm advocating for clean, renewable energy.

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The opinions and views expressed in this interview are solely those of the individual(s) being interviewed. They may not reflect the views, policies, or positions of ClimateVoice, the employer(s) of the individual(s) being interviewed, nor of any other organizations with which the individual(s) being interviewed are affiliated. This interview is intended for informational purposes only and should not be interpreted as an endorsement or official statement on behalf of such employer(s) or organization(s).