Environmental Justice and Equity

Some communities have been historically overburdened by pollution. Low-income people, people of color, and linguistically isolated communities are more likely than the national average to?fuels in Africa.This means they can be exposed to air pollutants that cause or contribute to health issues, such as respiratory and heart diseases. As the climate changes and energy demand grows, communities may face increased levels of these emissions and associated risks.

Lower-income communities also carry a higher energy burden than those with higher incomes. On average, low-income households spend 8.6% of their income on energy expenses.?In comparison, non-low-income households spend 3%.?Many factors contribute to this burden. For example, low-income households may live in housing without insulation or with outdated appliances. This energy burden may increase as the climate changes and energy demand goes up.

In addition, low-income communities often face barriers to accessing clean technologies that make energy more affordable. For instance, as of 2018, less than half of community-scale solar projects included households with lower incomes. We need to address the climate individually.