{"id":3519,"date":"2025-10-14T08:56:09","date_gmt":"2025-10-14T08:56:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/3519\/"},"modified":"2025-10-14T08:56:09","modified_gmt":"2025-10-14T08:56:09","slug":"federal-cuts-dont-impact-sacramentos-climate-initiatives","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/3519\/","title":{"rendered":"Federal cuts don’t impact Sacramento’s climate initiatives"},"content":{"rendered":"

It\u2019s a strange moment in climate justice across the country. Earlier this year, the Trump administration dismantled several key climate and equity programs<\/a>. Now, community groups are scrambling as federal environmental justice grants are being rolled back. However, in Sacramento, many Black-led organizations argue that the work hasn\u2019t stopped, and they have not been directly affected by the federal environmental and climate rollbacks.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe don\u2019t receive any federal funding. If we did, we would have been impacted by the dismantling of the EPA,\u201d said Faye Wilson Kennedy, a founding member of the Red Black and Green Environmental Justice Coalition.<\/a> \u201cBecause we\u2019re in California, we have a fairly good state EPA and we have a fairly good health system protecting people.\u201d<\/p>\n

For grassroots groups in states like Louisiana<\/a>, Texas<\/a>, and Mississippi<\/a>, these cuts were devastating. Many relied on federal support to fund clean water projects, legal advocacy, or climate resiliency training. Without that support, entire programs have been paused or shut down.<\/p>\n

In California, however, the story unfolds differently.<\/p>\n

California has built its own climate and equity infrastructure<\/a> over the past two decades. From the landmark Assembly Bill 32 Global Warming Solutions Act<\/a> to CalEnviroScreen, a state tool that maps pollution and vulnerability, California has consistently gone further than the federal government in directing resources to frontline communities.<\/p>\n

That means groups in Sacramento, from urban farming collectives to environmental justice coalitions, are less dependent on Washington. They receive support through state climate initiatives, regional partnerships, and local philanthropy.<\/p>\n

Barry F. Boyd, board member at the Sacramento Environmental Justice Coalition<\/a>, said his organization, despite state grants, faces indirect effects from the federal rollbacks, such as reduced opportunities for additional funding.<\/p>\n

\"JoelleJoelle Toney, left, and Faye Wilson Kennedy at a community clean-up held in Del Paso Heights by Red Black and Green Environmental Justice Coalition. Courtesy Photo, Faye Wilson Kennedy\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\u201cFortunately for us, we haven\u2019t been impacted yet because the grants we\u2019ve received are state grants versus federal funding,\u201d said Boyd. \u201cThe indirect impact will be the loss of opportunities to apply for additional funding for future projects,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n

Co-founder of Yisrael Farms<\/a>, Chanowk Yisrael, said his farm, which focuses on sustainability and regenerative farming, has not been impacted by the federal rollbacks.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are not grant dependent,\u201d Yisrael said. \u201cNo one is coming to save us. We are interested in working with others to start up collective responsibility as food organizations are the backbone of our community.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jonathan K London, a professor of community and regional development at UC Davis whose research addresses conflicts and collaboration in natural resource management and environmental justice, anticipates California\u2019s climate grants and laws may be affected in the coming years.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis administration has shown us that there is no limit to what it\u2019s willing to do to take apart the environmental regulatory state and structure, whether those are federal laws or its control of what state governments can do,\u201d London said. \u201cSo I think the state is absolutely under threat.\u201d<\/p>\n

London suggested the state should not backtrack on environmental protections, even though the national mood is against it.\u00a0<\/p>\n

In a press release published by the Red Black and Green Environmental Justice Coalition and the Sacramento Poor People\u2019s Campaign, these groups vehemently opposed the current administration\u2019s dismantling of the EPA.<\/p>\n

\u201cEvery year, EPA awards more than $4 billion in funding for grants and other assistance agreements,\u201d the release stated. \u201cFrom small nonprofit organizations to large state governments, EPA works to help many visionary organizations achieve their environmental goals.\u201d<\/p>\n

Kennedy believes the way forward now is to trust in the solidarity of the community and for climate organizations to work together.<\/p>\n

\u201cAll we have to do now is work in coalition, whether it\u2019s through your church, whether it\u2019s through sororities or fraternities, whether it\u2019s through traditional organizations like NAACP, Urban League, the Black Business Association, they all have a role, because they all will be impacted by these cutbacks,\u201d Kennedy said.<\/p>\n

London paints a picture of what our climate might look like in 2030.<\/p>\n

\"FayeFaye Wilson Kennedy at a kickoff event organized by Red Black and Green Environmental Justice Coalition. Courtesy Photo, Faye Wilson Kennedy<\/p>\n

\u201cThe lines are currently going in the wrong direction,\u201d London said. \u201cThere is more carbon that\u2019s going to be emitted in the U.S. through fossil fuel production and related industry. So that\u2019s bad, and so climate disasters will get worse \u2014 wildfires, droughts, floods, big storms, and hurricanes.\u201d<\/p>\n

He noted, however, that the climate justice movement is going in the right direction.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo there\u2019s some great, inspiring, effective climate activism that\u2019s happening at grassroots levels. We have really inspiring youth leaders working in the climate justice space,\u201d London said.<\/p>\n

London said the ordinary person can also join in climate activism.<\/p>\n

\u201cOne thing to do is not to lose hope. You have to keep hope alive,\u201d he said. \u201cEducate yourselves on climate change and don\u2019t believe it\u2019s a hoax.\u201d<\/p>\n

He advised that people should engage more in tree planting. He encouraged the younger generation to take classes that address climate justice and environmental sustainability.<\/p>\n

\u201cAll of these things are good to do,\u201d he said, \u201cbut the big shift we need is political to demand a return to a sane climate policy. So vote, get involved, write letters, go to protests.\u201d<\/p>\n

He offered climate organizations possible strategies to cope in these tumultuous times. He recommended they partner with universities that can help with research and technical assistance. He also said no climate and environmental organization should be in isolation.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is not the time to stand alone. This is the time for connection and solidarity across borders,\u201d London said.<\/p>\n

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