By On Wednesday August 24th, citizens from all over California rallied in Sacramento and took a stand for climate justice. The mass action, organized by CoRReSol (Communities Rising for Real Solutions), rallied California citizens who are taking a precedent-setting stand to stop the inclusion of cap-and-trade in AB 32, California’s climate legislation.
California citizens have had it with big polluters making big bucks by trashing the health and safety of the communities in which they operate. Countless studies have pointed to increased rates of asthma, cancer, and birth defects that disproportionately affect low-income communities and communities of color throughout the state of California — and indeed, throughout the US.
Locally, cap-and-trade means zero change at the site of pollution for thousands of Californians. When companies can trade away their emissions responsibility, they basically pay their way out of cleaning up their own toxic operations in California. This means that Californians remain exposed to countless toxic hazards while the polluters get the cheddar. Talk about sick.
Cap-and-trade schemes are an example of corporate environmental racism run rampant. These companies are trying to get away with continuing to pollute communities of color and low-income communities in California.
Fortuantely, CoRReSol knows what kind of green polluters are really talking about, and is calling out the corruption loud and clear. CoRReSol is an inspiring voice for truth and real solutions that create emissions reductions and green jobs here in California.
When the time comes for California to enact climate legislation we damn well better be setting an example that actually lowers emissions and creates real solutions to climate change, not a carbon market scheme that rewards corrupt polluters and outsources fake solutions.