E2. Front Line Community Green

3 de marzo, 2026

Con el objetivo de fortalecer capacidades locales y promover soluciones estructurales frente al aumento sostenido de los residuos sólidos en el país, el Centro Salvadoreño de Tecnología Apropiada (CESTA) desarrolló dos actividades estratégicas: la segunda jornada del Seminario de gestión integral de desechos sólidos dirigida a municipalidades, y el foro público “La invasión plástica en El Salvador: Importación y exportación de desechos plásticos”. Ambos espacios pusieron en el centro la transición hacia modelos basura cero como respuesta técnica, social y ambiental a la crisis de los residuos.

Municipalidades fortalecen capacidades técnicas para avanzar hacia basura cero

En el marco del proceso formativo impulsado por CESTA, representantes de nueve alcaldías y de organizaciones de sociedad civil participaron en la segunda jornada del Seminario de gestión integral de desechos sólidos.

El objetivo general fue establecer lineamientos que conduzcan a los municipios hacia una gestión sustentable de los desechos sólidos, reduciendo al mínimo la generación de basura y fortalecer la planificación institucional mediante una Hoja de Ruta hacia Municipios Cero Basura.

Durante la sesión se abordaron contenidos técnicos sobre tipos de plásticos, micro y nano plásticos, reciclaje e impactos ambientales y sanitarios, incluyendo los riesgos asociados a la incineración de residuos. La discusión subrayó que estas tecnologías representan falsas soluciones, ya que liberan contaminantes altamente tóxicos como dioxinas y furanos, con impactos directos en la salud y el ambiente.

“Para evitar una crisis de basura de grandes proporciones en un futuro cercano y dar sustentabilidad a la gestión de desechos sólidos, es necesario implementar nuevas acciones creativas que no solo se concentren en la etapa final de la recolección y disposición, sino que abarquen todas las etapas, desde la generación, almacenamiento, recolección, transporte, recuperación y disposición final de desechos y consideren los aspectos económicos, ecológicos, sociales y políticos.”, señaló Laura Mejía, de CESTA.

Por otro lado, el contexto institucional presenta desafíos complejos para que los gobiernos locales implementen acciones relacionadas a los residuos sólidos , por ejemplo, la reducción del Fondo para el Desarrollo Económico y Social (FODES), los procesos de reestructuración de los municipios a distritos y la creación en 2024 de la Autoridad Nacional de Residuos Sólidos (ANDRES) han limitado la autonomía y los recursos financieros de los gobiernos locales.

Frente a este escenario, el proceso de formación representa una contribución valiosa para el fortalecimiento de capacidades de los gobiernos municipales, aportando herramientas e información actualizada y una propuesta para la gestión sustentable de los desechos sólidos. En CESTA, esperan que a futuro cada gobierno municipal cuente con su hoja de ruta clara, realista y aplicable en el corto y mediano plazo, con metas medibles y un compromiso institucional; que cuenten con una visión estratégica con el fin de alcanzar Municipios basura cero.

“Este proceso educativo ha permitido conocer las diversas aristas desde lo ambiental, social, político de la problemática del mal manejo de los desechos sólidos. Esto ha permitido sensibilizar a los /as funcionarios municipales y participantes, para que revisen sus planes operativos e iniciativas para una gestión sustentable de los desechos sólidos y la reducción de la contaminación especialmente de los desechos plásticos.”, afirmó Laura Mejía de CESTA.

Foro nacional analiza la importación de desechos plásticos y sus impactos

Como parte del fortalecimiento de la formación ambiental y política, CESTA realizó además el foro “La invasión plástica en El Salvador”, con la participación de 60 personas entre jóvenes, universidades, recicladores de base, comunidades urbanas, organizaciones sociales y referentes municipales.

El objetivo fue actualizar a la sociedad salvadoreña sobre la magnitud de los desechos plásticos que ingresan al país, así como sobre la creciente generación interna de basura plástica. El espacio incluyó un análisis de la Convención de Basilea y sus enmiendas sobre desechos plásticos peligrosos, examinando el estado de su implementación a nivel nacional.

El foro puso en evidencia que El Salvador continúa recibiendo importantes volúmenes de desechos plásticos desde Estados Unidos, lo que incrementa la vulnerabilidad territorial y ambiental. Las y los participantes coincidieron en la necesidad de fortalecer la coordinación regional y la capacidad de respuesta informada para enfrentar esta problemática.

“Es muy importante hablar sobre importación y exportación de desechos plásticos porque seguimos siendo uno de los países que más recibe basura de Estados Unidos y la población tiene que estar informada para demandar nuestros derechos a no aumentar la vulnerabilidad del territorio. Podemos a nivel regional, encontrar estrategias comunes para enfrentar estas problemáticas.”, comentó Linda Rubio de CESTA.

Entre las principales conclusiones se destacó la urgencia de profundizar la formación político-ambiental, mantener el análisis crítico sobre las dinámicas de importación y exportación de residuos, y articular estrategias comunes que prioricen la justicia ambiental y la reducción en la fuente.

Resultados y reflexiones

Más allá de los contenidos técnicos, ambos espacios dejaron una reflexión transversal, la gestión de residuos sólidos no puede abordarse únicamente desde la infraestructura, sino que debe hacerse desde un enfoque integral que considere dimensiones económicas, ecológicas, sociales y políticas. La transición hacia basura cero requiere voluntad institucional, participación comunitaria y decisiones basadas en evidencia.

Con estos procesos, CESTA refuerza su apuesta por soluciones locales, socialmente justas, ambientalmente responsables y sin falsas soluciones como la incineración de residuos.

Sobre CESTA

• Frente a las crisis socioambientales planetarias que tienen sus causas inmediatas en el modelo de desarrollo inadecuado y en la estructura de poder que sustenta ese modelo; CESTA contribuye a impulsar esos cambios estructurales que permitan construir sociedades más sustentables con justicia social, ambiental y de género.
• Sitio web: cesta-foe.org.sv/
• Redes sociales: Instagram / Facebook / X

The post CESTA forma a municipalidades salvadoreñas para avanzar hacia hojas de ruta basura cero y abre el debate sobre la invasión plástica en el país first appeared on GAIA.

kayla@unbendablemedia.com

Washington, D.C. –  The U.S. military is the largest institutional greenhouse gas emitter in the world. At a time when the United Nations has pulled the emergency alarm, warning us that we have entered an era of global water bankruptcy and irreversible long-term consequences are quickly approaching from the rapid rise of global temperatures- one thing is clear. War is not the answer.

We condemn the United States and Israel’s preemptive military strikes on Iran today, that fly in the face of international law, human rights, and democracy. If we want to stop the climate crisis and ensure a safe and healthy future for us all we must oppose war and militarism.  

The military attacks on Iran are not about peace and democracy, but rather about sowing fear, bloodshed, and despair as the U.S. attempts to further destabilize the region and secure access to profitable natural resources that it wants to control. This is not surprising given recent foreign policy actions taken by the Trump administration in Venezuela and Cuba, and our 

ongoing history of engaging in coups, occupations, and endless wars to control resource-rich countries, especially for oil and gas. Just since 2025, the Trump administration has carried out military actions in the Middle East, Africa, and Latin America. 

We stand with the frontline communities of the world, and the peoples of Iran and the region, who are calling for an immediate end to these airstrikes and all military attacks in the region. War and increased militarization accelerate climate chaos and we oppose them in the strongest of terms. 

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The post Climate Justice Alliance Opposes the War on Iran – War Fuels Climate Change appeared first on Climate Justice Alliance.

Contact: brett@unbendablemedia.com

Washington, D.C. – Polluted water does not remain in isolation. It flows into other bodies of water, goes through the water cycle, and finds its way into places and ecosystems that impact human health such as our drinking water, and the soil where our food is grown and our children play. 

The most recent attack on clean water protections by Trump’s EPA will open the floodgates for increased water pollution in every state and Tribal Nation, putting all our public health at risk.  

This rollback focuses on eroding section 401 of the Clean Water Act (CWA), which requires that any project seeking federal permits for activities that may result in discharge into waters of the United States have to obtain a water quality certification from a State or Tribal Nation. This crucial section provides States and Tribal Nations mechanisms to enforce water quality standards, including conditionally approving or denying permits.

Climate Justice Alliance, WE ACT for Environmental Justice, and GreenLatinos submitted a joint public comment letter opposing many aspects of the EPA’s proposal and urged the EPA to preserve States and Tribal Nations’ ability to holistically evaluate projects and enforce strong water protections through the water quality certification process.

Communities across the United States rely on strong, comprehensive, and precautionary federal protections to guarantee safe water quality and defend against water pollution and contamination. The EPA cannot abandon its mission to protect public health and the environment in favor of protecting industry and corporate dollars. 

We call on the EPA to maintain a strong CWA Section 401 that protects water quality, public health and the environment, ensuring people can live, play, work, gather food, and pray in waters that are clean, protected, and preserved for future generations.

Read the full comment letter here.

 

The post CJA, WE ACT for Environmental Justice, and GreenLatinos Submit Comment Letter to Urge the EPA to Protect Water Quality, Public Health, and the Environment appeared first on Climate Justice Alliance.

By Mariel Vilella, February 13, 2026

GAIA (Global Alliance for Incineration Alternatives) today welcomed the COP31 Presidency’s decision to make zero waste and waste methane reduction a top climate priority. The announcement underscores the urgent need to tackle methane—a super-pollutant over 80 times more potent than CO₂ over 20 years—and accelerate near-term climate action under the Paris Agreement, while ensuring a just transition for frontline communities.

“Zero waste is a practical, fast, and equitable climate solution”

Waste methane is one of the fastest and most cost-effective emissions sources to address. Proven solutions—like composting, recycling, waste separation, and biological treatment—can reduce methane emissions by up to 95% and cut total waste-sector emissions by more than 1.4 billion tonnes, while delivering cleaner air, jobs, healthier communities, and stronger local economies. Crucially, these solutions must be implemented in ways that ensure a just transition for waste workers and marginalized communities.

Türkiye has a unique opportunity to lead
Türkiye can elevate zero waste as a core climate solution, mobilizing finance toward local implementation, demonstrating scalable models, and integrating equity and community-led approaches. This sets a powerful precedent for global ambition, practical delivery, and a just transition.

Local communities are already showing what works
Across Latin America, Africa, and Asia, local governments and community organizations are demonstrating that zero waste systems can deliver rapid, equitable climate action. Key examples include:

• Dar es Salaam, Tanzania: 4,500 households in Bonyokwa ward divert 100% of organic waste, cutting 16.4 tonnes of methane annually. World Bank funding supports scaling, led by local GAIA member, Nipe Fagio.
• Brazil: 20+ waste picker organisations in São Paulo and Brasília implement organic waste recycling under the National Strategy for Municipal Biowaste, supported by over US$ 70M.
• Philippines: The Zero Waste Cities Network includes 37 cities committed to reducing 70% of methane from waste by 2030. The Philippine National Waste Workers Alliance (PNWWA) unites 1,000+ workers advocating for safe working conditions.
• Durban, South Africa: Food waste from Warwick markets is composted for the Durban Botanic Garden, reducing landfill costs (~US$ 93/tonne) and creating jobs. The project is expanding to three markets and eventually all nine city markets.
  Accra, Ghana: Green Youth Africa Organization (GAYO) integrates 600 informal waste workers into municipal systems, reducing burning and improving livelihoods.
• Europe: Nearly 500 municipalities are committed to zero waste through the Zero Waste Cities Certification. Highlights include Milan collecting 95 kg of organics per person annually, Salacea (Romania) increasing separate collection from 1% to 61% in three months, and Partizanske (Slovakia) reducing residual waste by 57 kg per person within a year.
  

Financing zero waste solutions is key to a just transition
To scale these proven approaches, GAIA calls on governments, multilateral climate funds, and private investors to:

• Shift finance away from high-emitting, harmful waste disposal practices, such as waste-to-energy incineration, toward community-led zero waste initiatives.
• Support frontline waste workers and local organizations to ensure equitable and effective implementation.
• Provide inclusive access to finance for marginalized communities, ensuring a just transition and that no one is left behind.
  

Zero waste is not only a climate solution—it is a justice-centered development opportunity. The time to act is now. COP31 must ensure finance and support to reach those already delivering results on the ground, so local successes can scale to global impact, while advancing a just transition for all communities involved.

For more information, and case studies of community-led zero waste solutions, visit: GAIA Zero Waste Business Models

The post GAIA Welcomes COP31 Zero Waste Priority, Calls for Climate Finance to Scale Community Solutions and Support a Just Transition first appeared on GAIA.

PRESS STATEMENT
Feb 13, 2026

GAIA welcomes the COP31 Presidency’s decision to prioritize zero waste and waste methane reduction—a critical and timely step toward accelerating climate action and advancing a just transition for frontline communities.

Mariel Vilella, Director of GAIA’s Global Climate Program, said:

“Recognizing zero waste as a top climate priority is both urgent and overdue. Waste methane is a super-pollutant driving near-term warming, yet zero waste solutions—like composting, recycling, and organic waste treatment—can reduce methane emissions by up to 95% and cut total waste-sector emissions by more than 1.4 billion tonnes. These solutions deliver cleaner air, jobs, healthier communities, and stronger local economies, while ensuring a just transition for waste workers and marginalized communities.

“Türkiye has a unique opportunity to lead by elevating zero waste as a core climate solution, mobilizing finance toward implementation, and demonstrating scalable, equity-driven models. Across the globe, communities are already showing what works—from Dar es Salaam diverting 100% of organic waste from 4,500 households, to Brazil’s 20+ waste picker organisations supported with USD 70M, and 37 Philippine cities committed to cutting 70% of methane emissions from waste by 2030.

“Climate finance must shift from harmful disposal practices, like waste-to-energy incineration, to community-led zero waste initiatives that deliver results on the ground. Zero waste is not only a climate solution—it is a justice-centred development opportunity. The time to act is now.”

Additional information about zero waste in practice across the world

Across Latin America, Africa, and Asia, local governments and community organizations are demonstrating that zero waste systems can deliver rapid, equitable climate solutions. The cases of Buenos Aires (Argentina), Quezon City (Philippines), and Accra (Ghana) illustrate how decentralized, community-based organic waste management creates green jobs, reduces methane emissions, and strengthens local governance. These examples show that solutions already exist, but scaling them requires supportive policies, networks, and financial backing. (GAIA Zero Waste Business Models)

Additional transformative examples worldwide include:

• Dar es Salaam, Tanzania: The Bonyokwa ward zero waste model collects 1.74 tonnes daily from 4,500 households, achieving 95% source segregation and 100% organic waste diversion, cutting 16.4 tonnes of methane annually.
• Brazil: Over 20 waste picker organisations, including in São Paulo and Brasília, are implementing organic waste recycling systems under the National Strategy for Municipal Biowaste, supported with over USD 70M in funding.
• Philippines: The Zero Waste Cities Network now includes 37 cities committed to cutting 70% of methane emissions from waste by 2030. The Philippine National Waste Workers Alliance (PNWWA) unites 1,000+ workers advocating for labour rights and safe working conditions.
• Durban, South Africa: Food waste from the Warwick markets is composted for the Durban Botanic Garden, reducing landfill costs (~USD 93/ton) and creating jobs. The project is scaling to three markets and eventually all nine city markets.
• Accra, Ghana: Green Youth Africa Organization (GAYO) integrates 600 informal waste workers into municipal waste systems, reducing burning and improving livelihoods.
• Europe: Nearly 500 municipalities are committed to zero waste under the Zero Waste Cities Certification. Highlights include Milan collecting 95 kg of organics per person annually, Salacea (Romania) increasing separate collection from 1% to 61% in three months, and Partizanske (Slovakia) reducing residual waste by 57 kg per person within a year.

MEDIA CONTACT:  

Sonia Astudillo, Global Climate Communications Officer | +639175968286 | sonia@no-burn.org

GAIA is a network of grassroots groups as well as national and regional alliances representing more than 1000 organizations from over 100 countries. With our work we aim to catalyze a global shift towards environmental justice by strengthening grassroots social movements that advance solutions to waste and pollution. We envision a just, Zero Waste world built on respect for ecological limits and community rights, where people are free from the burden of toxic pollution, and resources are sustainably conserved, not burned or dumped. www.no-burn.org

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GAIA condemns the Environmental Protection Agency‘s (EPA) official revocation of its 2009 Endangerment Finding (“Finding”) under Section 202(a) of the Clean Air Act. The Finding was based on decades of overwhelming scientific evidence and legal precedent that greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) endanger public health and welfare. The administration argued that the Clean Air Act does not give it legal authority to regulate GHG, thereby destroying the legal foundation upon which vital climate protections were based.

By decoupling greenhouse gas emissions from the documented harm they do to human and environmental health, the administration is flinging open the door for massive deregulation at the federal level. Their initial stated intent for revoking the Finding is to gut motor vehicle emissions regulations. But it won’t stop there.

On Wednesday, the day before officially revoking the Finding, the administration continued to prop up the coal industry in an Executive Order requiring the Pentagon to source energy from coal-fired power plants, following up on their June 2025  proposed “Repeal of Greenhouse Gas Emissions Standards for Fossil Fuel-Fired Electric Generating Units.”

For GAIA and our members working at the intersection of waste and environmental justice, this revocation will limit the tools we have to hold polluters accountable and to protect our communities, and especially Black, Brown, and Indigenous communities where polluting infrastructure is most often sited. 

The waste sector is one of the biggest emitters of methane, a greenhouse gas with 82.5 times the warming potential of CO₂ over a 20-year period.  Ending the Finding will take away the authority of the EPA to regulate methane and co-pollutants from landfills, incinerators, and other waste facilities. Additionally, this will stall progress toward true zero waste systems, such as organics diversion, composting, and nontoxic reuse, that cut methane at the source while advancing climate, health, and equity goals. 

Plastics production and disposal are exponentially expanding  GHG emitters. If plastics were a country, it would be the world’s fifth-largest GHG emitter.  Without EPA authority to regulate GHG emissions, the plastics and petrochemical industry will be free to expand all of the processes–including pyrolysis and gasification–that release extensive GHG emissions, in addition to using toxic chemicals.

This decision is so egregious that numerous organizations have promised to sue the administration, which GAIA fully supports. 

The post EPA revokes its Endangerment Finding, dismantling the legal basis for U.S. climate pollution limits first appeared on GAIA.

Contact: Kayla Ritchie, kayla@unbendablemedia.com (CJA) / Ashley Sullivan, ashley.sullivan@weact.org, (917) 837-1183 (WE ACT/EJLF) / Isella Ramirez, info@movingforwardnetwork.com, (323) 854-1857 / (MFN) / Prerna Sampat, press@ceed.org (CEED/Platform for a Just Climate) / Stephanie Herron, sherron@comingcleaninc.org, 802-251-0203 ext.707 (EJHA)

Coalition of environmental justice networks representing millions of frontline and fenceline communities demand justice: Revoking the Endangerment Finding and vehicle standards is unacceptable and we will keep fighting for our rights.

NATIONWIDE – Today, the Trump administration’s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced its final decision to revoke the Endangerment Finding and vehicle emissions regulations. In response, the coalition made up of, the Moving Forward Network (MFN), Climate Justice Alliance (CJA), Platform for a Just Climate (formerly referred to as the Equitable & Just National Climate Platform), Environmental Justice Health Alliance for Chemical Policy Reform (EJHA), and the Environmental Justice Leadership Forum (EJLF) shares that the injustice shown through this decision only strengthens our resolve to hold the EPA accountable to its mission to protect human health and the environment, while continuing to fight to protect the communities we represent across the U.S.

Last September, the coalition submitted written comments to the proposed repeal- signed by 100 organizations and individuals, alongside a powerful collection of testimonies that capture the real-world impacts of climate and transportation pollution, and frontline and fenceline communities’ need for robust environmental and health protections. As the coalition underscored, the EPA must be held accountable for violating its mission, by prioritizing the corporate polluter agenda while putting millions of lives at risk. This administration must answer for its betrayal of the public, especially environmental justice communities, who continue to be put in the greatest danger. With this decision on the heels of the EPA’s  55th anniversary, the coalition furthers our call on the Agency to renew its commitment to environmental justice, restore essential funding, and ensure protections for current and future generations.

“The Endangerment Finding ensures that the EPA can do its job to protect our health and well-being by curbing pollution. By revoking this, the administration continues to show that their priorities are grounded in sacrificing our health, endangering communities and commodifying the Earth for more corporate extraction and profits, at the expense of our future.” -Mar Zepeda Salazar, Legislative Director, Climate Justice Alliance

“One year ago, Trump rolled into office with a barrage of executive orders tearing down environmental protections and making corporate polluters’ toxic wishlist into his top priority. Now, Trump’s EPA is rolling back a critical scientific determination, the endangerment finding, opening the door to more pollution, more asthma attacks, more heat‑related illnesses, and more fires and storms fueled by climate change in our communities. But here is what this Administration needs to know: we’re still here, we’re still united, and we are still resisting these attacks on environmental justice communities. We refuse to accept a future where our communities are turned into sacrifice zones so corporate polluters can profit.” -Byron Gudiel, Executive Director, Center for Earth Energy & Democracy (CEED), convener of the Platform for a Just Climate.

“The EPA’s repeal of the Endangerment Finding is a harmful step backward for communities that have shouldered the greatest pollution burdens for generations. Environmental justice communities remain on the frontlines of air and climate hazards, and this rollback threatens to deepen those inequities. The EPA’s mission is to protect human health and the environment, and that responsibility must be fulfilled equitably across all communities. We will continue to speak out and organize for a safe, just, and healthy future where our communities can truly thrive.” -Denise Patel, Director of Organizing, WE ACT for Environmental Justice, Environmental Justice Leadership Forum 

“The revoking of the Endangerment Finding and the vehicle standards puts American lives at risk. We will continue to uplift the EPA’s mission to protect human health and the environment. We continue to be committed to fighting for clean air and a healthy environment. Justice is in the air.” -Isella Ramirez, Moving Forward Network

“EPA has the authority and moral obligation to do more, not less, to reduce the harms from toxic air pollution and climate change, both of which are disproportionately concentrated in poor and primarily of color neighborhoods. Instead of protecting public health, protecting the environment and creating a 21st century economy based on innovation and collective care instead of extraction and sacrifice zones, this administration wants to take us back to a time before the EPA existed– when rivers caught on fire, children were poisoned by lead, smog choked communities, and average life expectancy in the U.S. was about five years shorter. Communities like the ones that make up EJHA who are poisoned by industrial and vehicle pollution are sick and tired of sacrificing our families’ health for the profits of corporate polluters”. -Stephanie Herron, Environmental Justice Health Alliance for Chemical Policy Reform (EJHA)

Additional Background:

The comments shared by this coalition provide a specific rationale for opposing the EPA’s flawed decision rescind its 2009 Endangerment Finding and GHG Vehicle Standards. This includes that:

1. This decision denies the lived experience, backed by science, of the effects of pollution on public health, the environment, and the climate. 
2. This decision does not consider the targeted and harmful effects that this “historic deregulation” effort will have on workers. 
3. This decision is based on flawed science. 
4. This decision is unlawful. 
5. This decision does not consider the benefits of climate and environmental protection.

The EPA was built 55 years ago in response to the organizing and advocacy efforts from communities across the country as a call to protect human health and the environment, and serves several critical functions, including developing and enforcing regulations, providing grants, and studying environmental impacts. Since the beginning of the second Trump administration, we have witnessed dozens of unprecedented EPA rollbacks of hard-fought, peer-reviewed, research-based, and life-saving regulations, as well as the termination of millions of dollars in critical grants. For these reasons, the coalition demands that the EPA be held accountable for its deadly decision to rescind the Endangerment Finding and vehicle emissions standards.

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The post As EPA Revokes Endangerment Finding, EJ Orgs Continue to Fight to Protect Communities from Climate Chaos & Hold EPA Accountable appeared first on Climate Justice Alliance.

Chevron and WSPA remain top spenders for influence and lobbying at the close of 2025

 Sacramento, CA — New lobbying disclosures reveal California fossil fuel companies spent an egregious $34 million influencing lawmakers in Sacramento, not too far below 2024’s $38 million total, which was their highest spending year ever. Influence spending in Q4 was $7.7 million, with 73% of that coming from Chevron and WSPA.

Californians for Energy Independence, an oil industry front group that is heavily funded by companies like Chevron and that advocates for local oil and gas production, also poured $6.7 million into “general issues relating to energy independence in California.” This amount is not included in the total lobbying number, however, as it falls under Chevron’s expenses instead. Almost all of this lobbying spending is found in a payment for Winner And Mandabach Campaigns LLC, a national consulting firm specializing in ballot measure campaigns.

Top 5 lobbying and influence spenders of 2025:

Company/Trade Association Amount

  Chevron U.S.A., Inc. $12,935,583.66 Western States Petroleum Association $12,405,328.58 Californians For Energy Independence $6,737,655.88 Phillips 66 $1,058,331.41 Marathon Petroleum Corporation $877,022.75

Top 5 lobbying and influence spenders of Q4:

Company/Trade Association Amount

  Western States Petroleum Association $3,525,971.27 Chevron U.S.A., Inc. $2,113,122.50 Californians For Energy Independence $1,035,800.00 Phillips 66 $340,529.20 Marathon Petroleum Corporation $210,019.12

Chevron was a leader among Big Oil groups pushing back against key climate bills like the Polluters Pay Climate Superfund Act, which would hold major corporate climate polluters accountable for their fair share of the climate damages facing the state. Shell and WSPA also lobbied against this bill, which ultimately did not advance last session after industry attacks. The bill’s sponsors remain committed to the campaign for a Polluter Pays Climate Superfund Act, and Tracy, CA recently became the 25th locality to endorse the Act.

SB 237, a gut-and-amend bill rushed through at the end of this legislative session to roll back environmental regulations and allow thousands of new oil and gas wells to be drilled per year, saw lobbying from Valero, Phillips 66, and Exxon Mobil. The bill, opposed by climate and environmental justice organizations, sought to open up Kern County to increased dangerous, toxic drilling, ostensibly in response to the closure of the Phillips 66 refinery in Southern California and upcoming closure of the Valero refinery in Benicia. While frontline communities in Kern County and across California suffer from chronic exposure to pollution due to oil drilling, Big Oil is weaponizing its wealth to secure industry friendly policy that pads their bottom line with disregard to impacted Californians.

“Last year, Big Oil spent big on lobbying in California – and it worked. Oil lobbyists used refinery closures and a campaign of misinformation to pressure the Governor and legislature into big giveaways to the oil industry which do absolutely nothing to benefit the communities living near California’s refineries or the workers who operate them,” said Faraz Rizvi, Policy and Campaigns Manager at the Asian Pacific Environmental Network (APEN). “In 2026, California has an opportunity to set a new course: responsibly stewarding the energy transition, safeguarding our health and climate progress, and centering the needs of frontline communities and workers along the way.”

“In this vital decade of transitioning away from fossil fuels and creating a cleaner and more affordable economy in California, we are seeing an escalating campaign of disinformation by oil corporations that blames their exit from California on health protective common sense measures in our communities,” said Bahram Fazeli, Director of Research and Policy at Communities for a Better Environment. “However, we all know the real reason is that fossil fuel demand in California is on the decline, and in response California elected officials should prepare visionary transition plans that protects communities and workers during this historic transformation.”

As we approach the start of a new legislative session, California’s ongoing transition off of a waning fossil fuel industry remains a pertinent issue. In his final year of office, Governor Gavin Newsom’s climate legacy faces a critical moment. Climate and environmental justice organizations who saw extreme opposition from fossil fuel companies last year are counting on leadership from lawmakers that prioritizes frontline communities, consumers, and workers over Big Oil profits.

“Big Oil sees the writing on the wall: California and the world are moving on to cleaner, cheaper, safer energy. This multimillion-dollar spending spree is an attempt to prop up a declining industry and squeeze out as much profit for fossil fuel shareholders as possible, no matter the costs to public health and the climate. In his last year in office, we hope to work with Governor Newsom to hold Big Oil accountable, redirect state investment to real climate solutions, and establish his legacy as a climate leader.” Woody Hastings, Phase Out Polluting Fuels Program Director for The Climate Center

“Oil and gas lobbyists spend millions to keep drilling next to our schools and homes. They use money to try to drown out the voices of farmworkers who can’t breathe, of children using inhalers, of families watching their loved ones get sick. Corporate lobbying should not overpower community testimony. We know what we need to be healthy: clean air, safe water, and leaders who listen to us, not to the highest bidder. Every dollar spent silencing us is a dollar that could have gone to cleaning up their pollution. Our lungs shouldn’t be worth less than their profits, and our voices shouldn’t cost millions to be heard.” Cesar Aguirre CCEJN, Director, Air and Climate Justice

“While people across California spent 2025 calling on our state leaders to hold polluters accountable for fueling the climate crisis that is costing us billions, Big Oil tried to drown out our voices by spending massive amounts of money to get out of any responsibility for the mess they made. Californians need a future full of clean, sustainable energy, clean air and water, and we need it now – not more Big Oil money in Sacramento.” Nicole Ghio, California Director at Food & Water Watch

Additional information on Q4 and 2025 lobbying activity is available upon request.

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LCA LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

We acknowledge that Sacramento is the traditional home of the Maidu, Miwok and Nisenan people. Part of our commitment to decolonizing ourselves, our language, and our organizations is a commitment to learning and better understanding the history of Indigenous Peoples of so-called California, including the history of contact, colonization and the extraction of resources from Indigenous lands which has been part of the continuation of modern colonization.

The post Big Oil spends $34 million to stonewall and roll back critical health and climate policy in 2025 appeared first on Last Chance Alliance.

La sociedad civil insta a la nueva Presidencia a garantizar mayor transparencia e inclusión.

PARA SU PUBLICACIÓN INMEDIATA: 7 de febrero de 2026

Ginebra, Suiza – El 7 de febrero, los Estados Parte se reunieron en Ginebra, Suiza, en el marco del INC-5.3 para elegir a una nueva Presidencia de las negociaciones del Tratado de plásticos.

El anterior Presidente, el embajador Luis Vayas Valdivieso de Ecuador, anunció formalmente su renuncia a finales del año pasado, generando un vacío de liderazgo en un momento decisivo del proceso. Durante su gestión, las negociaciones fueron objeto de reiteradas críticas por la falta de transparencia, lo que socavó aún más la frágil confianza de los países y de los observadores en el proceso. De manera sistemática, la Presidencia se alineó con el mínimo común denominador, pese al aumento de la ambición por parte de la mayoría de los Estados.

Ahora que el embajador Julio Cordano, Chile, asume la conducción del proceso, la membresía de GAIA le insta a trazar un rumbo distinto al de su antecesor y a restablecer la confianza mediante la recuperación de la transparencia, el ejercicio de una conducción neutral, la habilitación de una toma de decisiones eficaz y la garantía de un acceso y una representación adecuados de la sociedad civil en las negociaciones. Pero lo más importante, deberá sostener la ambición asumida por los Estados Parte desde el inicio del proceso: entregar al mundo un tratado que aborde el ciclo de vida completo de los plásticos, desde la extracción hasta la disposición final,  priorizando la ciencia independiente, los derechos humanos y el liderazgo del Sur Global por sobre los intereses corporativos y de los petroestados.

Larisa de Orbe, Acción Ecológica México:

“El Sur Global ha sido históricamente una de las regiones más afectadas por el ciclo de vida de los plásticos, y por eso ha liderado las metas más ambiciosas. La nueva Presidencia debe reconocer este liderazgo y garantizar que su voz sea escuchada.”

Cecilia Bianco, Taller Ecologista:

“La Presidencia debe asegurar el cumplimiento de la Resolución 5/14 sobre el ciclo de vida de los plásticos, desde la extracción de materias primas hasta la disposición final. Es esencial reducir la producción de plásticos mediante metas globales vinculantes.”

Jam Lorenzo, BAN Toxics:

“La elección de una nueva Presidencia es un paso importante, pero un tratado que aborde todo el ciclo de vida de los plásticos solo será posible si los Estados dejan de proteger a los grandes contaminadores. Proteger la salud humana y el ambiente debe ser el objetivo central.”

Shahriar Hossain, Bangladesh:

“En esta etapa de las negociaciones, lo que falta no es evidencia, sino ambición. La ciencia es clara y los impactos son innegables. Se necesita voluntad política colectiva para lograr un tratado vinculante y creíble que actúe en el origen del problema.”

Robert Kitumaini Chikwanine, SOPRODE RDC:

“La sociedad civil aporta las voces de las comunidades afectadas, conocimiento independiente y la vigilancia necesaria para un tratado creíble. La Presidencia debe garantizar nuestro acceso y asegurar un proceso transparente e inclusivo.”

Kwame Ofori, Ako Foundation:“Para millones de personas que sufren a diario el impacto de la contaminación plástica, este liderazgo es lo que determinará si la ciencia, la justicia y los medios de subsistencia se garantizan o se retrasan”.

Frankie Orona, Society of Native Nations:

“Los Pueblos Indígenas y las comunidades en primera línea viven a diario los impactos de la contaminación plástica. Su participación es esencial para que sus derechos, saberes y realidades no queden relegados frente a los intereses de los contaminadores.”

Contacto de prensa:

Camila Aguilera | camila@no-burn.org | +56 9 8913 6198

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GAIA es una alianza mundial de más de 1000 grupos de base, organizaciones no gubernamentales y personas de más de 90 países. Con nuestro trabajo, buscamos impulsar un cambio global hacia la justicia ambiental mediante el fortalecimiento de los movimientos sociales de base que promueven soluciones a los residuos y la contaminación. Imaginamos un mundo justo y sin basura cero, basado en el respeto por los límites ecológicos y los derechos de las comunidades, donde las personas estén libres de la carga de la contaminación tóxica y los recursos se conserven de manera sostenible, sin quemarse ni tirarse a la basura.

The post Nueva Presidencia para las negociaciones del Tratado global de plásticos first appeared on GAIA.

Civil Society Urges New Chair to Enforce Greater Transparency, Inclusivity

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 7, 2026

Geneva, Switzerland– Member States convened in Geneva, Switzerland, on the 7th of February for INC-5.3 to elect a new Chair of the plastics treaty negotiations. Today they formally elected Julio Cordano, diplomat and Director of Environment, Climate Change, and Oceans at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Chile.

The previous Chair, Ambassador Luis Vayas Valdivieso of Ecuador, formally announced his resignation as Chair late last year, creating a leadership vacuum during a pivotal moment in the treaty process. Under his watch, the negotiations were frequently criticized for a lack of transparency, breaking down the already fragile trust countries and Observers had in the process. The Chair consistently catered to the lowest common denominator, despite growing ambition amongst a majority of countries. 

As Mr. Cordano takes the helm of the treaty process, GAIA members are urging him to chart a different course from his predecessor and restore trust by reestablishing transparency, promoting neutrality, enabling effective decision-making, and ensuring that civil society has appropriate access and representation in the talks. Most critically, he must uphold the ambition Member States committed to at the outset of this process: to deliver the world a treaty that addresses the full life cycle of plastics, from extraction to disposal, prioritising independent science, human rights, and Global South leadership over corporate and petro-state interests. 

Jam Lorenzo, BAN Toxics, Philippines: “The election of the new Chair is an important step towards progress, but a treaty that addresses the full lifecycle of plastics can only be achieved if Member States cease to protect the interests of plastic polluters. The impacts of plastic throughout its lifecycle are undeniable, and Member States need to be united in the central goal of protecting human health and the environment if we want an effective global plastics treaty.” 

Shahriar Hossain,  ESDO, Bangladesh: “At this stage in the negotiations, ambition, not evidence, is the missing ingredient. The science is settled, impacts are undeniable, and the moment now calls for collective political will. A credible, legally binding treaty must address plastic pollution at its source while safeguarding equity and human health.”

Robert Kitumaini Chikwanine, SOPRODE DRC:  “Civil society brings the voices of affected communities, independent expertise, and the vigilance necessary for a credible treaty. The Chair must guarantee our access and ensure a transparent and inclusive process.”

Kwame Ofori, Ako Foundation, Ghana: “To millions of people who experience the impact of plastic pollution on a daily basis, this leadership is what will decide whether science, justice, and livelihoods are secured or delayed.”

Larisa de Orbe, Acción Ecológica México: “The Global South has historically been one of the regions most affected by the plastic life cycle, which is why it has taken the lead in setting the most ambitious targets. The new Presidency must recognise the region’s leadership and ensure that its voice is heard.” 

Cecilia Bianco, Taller Ecologista, Argentina: “The Chair must ensure compliance with Resolution 5/14 on the life cycle of plastics, from raw material extraction to final disposal. It is essential that the treaty address the reduction of plastic production with binding global targets.”

Frankie Orona, Society of Native Nations: “Indigenous Peoples and frontline communities are living with the impacts of plastic pollution every day. Indigenous Peoples participation is essential to ensure lived realities, the rights and knowledge of Indigenous Peoples are not sidelined in favor of polluter interests. 

Press contact:

Claire Arkin | claire@no-burn.org | +1 973 444 4869

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GAIA is a worldwide alliance of more than 1,000 grassroots groups, non-governmental organizations, and individuals in over 90 countries. With our work, we aim to catalyze a global shift towards environmental justice by strengthening grassroots social movements that advance solutions to waste and pollution. We envision a just, zero waste world built on respect for ecological limits and community rights, where people are free from the burden of toxic pollution, and resources are sustainably conserved, not burned or dumped. 

The post Countries Adopt New Chair of Plastics Treaty Negotiations  first appeared on GAIA.

February 6, 2026

Read the CalMatters story featuring comment from Greenaction’s Bradley Angel:

“California spends billions based on this pollution tracker. Who benefits from its latest update?”

 

February 3, 2026

Read Greenaction & Allies Written Comments to California EPA/Department of Toxic Substances Control critiquing, pro-polluter draft regulations on hazardous waste facility permit criteria on cumulative impacts and community vulnerability.

Click below to Read

Comment_Updated-Hazardous-Waste-Facility-Permit-Criteria_2026-02-03

Wednesday, February 12, 2026:

Rally to Save San Francisco’s Climate  Action Plan, noon on the front steps of City Hall

see the flyer

Easy and quick way to file complaints if you observe pollution problems  in Bayview Hunters Point

Click here to download this flyer

February 26, 2026, 9:30 am Bayview Hunters Point & San Francisco Action Alert!
Show up to support Greenaction’s federal lawsuit against the US Navy due  to the inadequate cleanup of contamination at the Hunters Point Naval  Shipyard Superfund Site in Bayview Hunters Point, San Francisco

 

Click here to download the flyer

Hello Coalition of Communities,

In times of crisis, it's those who stay calm, think clearly, and remain determined who often emerge stronger. As the Coalition of Communities of Color, we believe that both we and the communities we serve must embody this steadiness and resolve, especially now, as we face escalated attacks to our rights and livelihoods. Together, we can navigate the noise and uncertainty with purpose and clarity.

Local and state racial equity and justice matters—while the onslaught of federal actions will have profound impacts on the lives of Oregonians, we remain hopeful because so many of the policies and programs that shape the lives of BIPOC Oregonians are implemented at the local level. Mandates and political pressure to eliminate Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion means it’s all the more important that we protect these values here in Oregon.

CCC is existentially committed to protecting and advancing those values, always. One modest way we're doing this is through releasing a video series that will highlight key actions from our research justice report, Cultivating Belonging in Clackamas County. We will continue to work alongside our partners to inform and share and involve you, the community and our constituents, about efforts that will protect and empower our communities.

Taking care of yourself, your loved ones, and your community is just as important as staying informed. We hope we can all find ways, big and small, to feel connected, protected and cared for.

Warm regards and ever at your service, 

Marcus C. Mundy,

Executive Director

February is Black History Month

Black History Month is a time to celebrate, uplift, and honor the rich contributions of the Black community. Join us this month in celebrating in meaningful ways—by supporting Black-owned businesses, joining local events, donating to organizations making an impact, and diving deeper into the incredible stories and history that have shaped our country, including Oregon. For more than 30 years, Oregon Black Pioneers have dedicated themselves to preserving the history of Black Oregonians. Read their stories on their website and check out their upcoming events for Black History Month across the state.

Introducing Community Data 

Community-driven data is a powerful tool for shaping policies that reflect the unique needs of diverse communities, but how exactly do we identify it and understand its value? Read our new report, Introducing Community Data, to learn the principles of community data and how you can use it to improve your data systems. Targeted at a broad audience, this is an accessible primer intended for anyone interested in how to approach community data. You can download the report on our website.

Learn the principles of community data in our new report.

Community-data is at the forefront of many of our projects, including the Modernized Anti-Racist Data Ecosystem (MADE) tool we are building with local government and community partners to impact health and climate equity policies. Watch this video to learn more.

Save the Date: Summer Soirée 2025

Our Summer Soirée returns on Friday, June 13th at the OHSU Robertson Collaborative Life Sciences Building atrium, as OHSU is our Venue Sponsor this year. Stay tuned as we share more information on what to expect, and how you can purchase tickets, or become a sponsor. If you have any questions regarding our event, please contact our Development Manager, Lucero at lucero@coalitioncommunitiescolor.org.

To take a look at last year’s Summer Soirée and get a glimpse at what is to come in June. Click the link here to view our full gallery of photos from 2024.

Thank you for supporting CCC!

We want to extend a heartfelt THANK YOU to everyone who made our 2024 end-of-year giving campaign such a success. Our 2024 theme, "Celebrating Stories," spotlighted the groundbreaking work happening across our programs. We're grateful to have shared this journey with you, offering a glimpse into the collective effort driving racial justice and systems change. Click here to donate and read our stories of impact of 2024.

Support Systems Change Work

On November 5th, Portland made history. With ranked-choice voting, we now have the most representative city council in Oregon’s history—one that is more reflective of Portlanders than ever before.

For the first time, East Portland, which has had little representation at the city, now has three councilors representing their diverse communities and unique concerns. The diversity of the new council is unprecedented: 5 people of color, 6 women, 3 renters, with ages ranging from 28 to 70.

Following the success of the 2024 election, we are proud to report that 91% of Portland voters found this system easy to use and that it has achieved our goal of greater representation.

This achievement didn’t happen by chance. It is the result of years of community-driven organizing, advocacy, and mobilization for systemic change.

Back in 2018, as the city prepared for its 2020 charter review, the Coalition of Communities of Color (CCC) advocacy staff began participating in research and policy development. As more established stakeholders expressed interest in building a new system, we quickly realized that if Portland's communities of color weren't at the table, no one would ensure the system worked for us and not just the status quo.

So, we stepped up. As a coalition of culturally specific organizations deeply affected by Portland’s governance, we set out to build a system that better reflected all Portland residents. In the years that followed, we held over 20 workshops to hear from BIPOC Portlanders about representation and the policy changes they wanted. We learned that a more equitable system was needed, so we advocated for an expanded city council and a new voting system where voters could rank candidates in order of support.

Working alongside many incredible partners, we successfully led the campaign to pass Measure 26-228 in November 2022, bringing these reforms to reality.

When we began, we had no dedicated grant funding for the project: donors made the launch of this work possible. We relied on grassroots contributions to fuel our work of breaking down systemic barriers for communities of color.

But this was just the beginning. We quickly pivoted to focus on the implementation of the new system, ensuring that BIPOC voters felt confident using it in the November 5th election.

As part of a comprehensive voter education effort led by our outstanding partners at Next Up, over 20 staff and volunteers canvassed neighborhoods, knocking on over 677 doors to directly connect with voters about the new system.

After we returned to the office, our group reflected on the canvassing experience. Story after story highlighted how strongly voters believed in the power of their ballot to bring about change. In a time when so much of politics is met with cynicism, these conversations were a powerful reminder of hope, especially from young BIPOC canvassers who had meaningful, real conversations with voters.

At CCC, we carry that hope forward through our mission of advancing racial justice through cross-cultural action. We know our work goes beyond a single victory or a single election—it is rooted in creating meaningful, long-lasting systemic change.

We invite you to join this legacy by contributing to this work and supporting CCC today.

Thank you to our Steering Committee for championing equity and inclusion efforts in Clackamas county.

On an early fall night, a diverse group of community leaders, local government officials, institutional partners, and members of the Coalition of Communities of Color (CCC) gathered at Clackamas Community College for a powerful evening of connection and celebration.

Cover art by Annie Hoang/ Instagram: @annie.hng

The event marked the launch of the “Cultivating Belonging in Clackamas County,” a research justice report led by the Research Justice Institute at CCC. This collaborative effort, developed over four years and guided deeply by community, focused on engaging Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) in the county to gather insights about their experiences, needs, and desires. What we found was a strong desire to have places and spaces where BIPOC communities can connect with both their own communities and cross-culturally.

This night was about much more than the completion of the report—it was about building personal connections, sharing insights, and reaffirming our collective commitment to advancing equity and inclusion in Clackamas County, despite the recent setbacks they’ve faced.

Today, we are continuing to move this work forward through a series of community-driven calls to action that support and strengthen racial equity efforts while fostering new initiatives for greater inclusion. If you’re interested in getting involved, take our mobilization survey for opportunities to advance these efforts collaboratively in Clackamas County.

TAKE further ACTION:

• Download Cultivating Belonging in Clackamas County
• Watch the Cultivating Belonging Intro Presentation
• Donate to CCC

Dr. Mira Mohsini, PhD, CCC Senior Researcher

Read our Q&A with CCC’s Dr. Mira Mohsini, PhD, lead author of “Cultivating Belonging”:

Can you share why was this report is necessary?

We often hear statements like “Oregon is so white,” “Portland is the whitest large city in the country,” “Clackamas county is the least racially and ethnically diverse county in the tri-county region.” While these statements are not false, and often spoken with good intentions, they can erase the presence of communities of color and Indigenous communities from these places. Taken as fact, these statements can stop us from asking why there are relatively fewer people of color here. This report challenges these narratives by centering the experiences and histories of communities of color in Clackamas county. 

The report is the first of its kind to tell the stories of people of color from across Clackamas county – what they care about, what changes they want to see in their communities and the institutions meant to serve them, and what a thriving present and future looks like for them. It’s  an essential body of knowledge that comprehensively takes stock of the needs and desires of communities of color, as understood and articulated on their own terms. It’s a culmination of over four years of research guided by deep relationships and led by people of color who are closest to, and have lived experiences of, some of the most pressing issues the county faces. Finally, the report turns a diversity of evidence – stories, lived experiences, and relevant statistical and geographic data – into a set of community-desired calls to action that can support existing organizing efforts for racial equity and justice and catalyze new ones.

What are some challenges that BIPOC community members expressed to you?

As we developed more and stronger relationships with Clackamas county residents, we kept hearing how disconnected people of color are from each other. They often travel to other counties to find community, to access services in their languages, to worship, and to buy culturally appropriate foods, for example. We heard that there just aren’t the opportunities and spaces to connect. We heard from youth and students of color about how adults, teachers, and school administrators don’t take their experiences of hate and discrimination seriously or don’t respond in supportive and meaningful ways. We heard about the challenges that newly arrived immigrants face with finding work, navigating bureaucratic systems, and accessing culturally responsive services. We heard from employees of color working within dominant institutions and across the county about their unaddressed and persistent experiences of discrimination, othering, and intimidations. But despite these challenges, we heard so many people of color say that they want to stay in Clackamas county and be a part of its future where everyone feels like they belong.  

Personally, what challenges did you face when completing this report?

Honestly, the hardest part was writing it. After spending four years being in relationship with so many generous and amazing people, hearing their stories, going to community events, hosting meetings with community-based organizations and dominant institution partners, organizing data collection engagements, and working to accurately interpret all this data with our steering committee members, we, the researchers, were faced with the huge responsibility of translating all this knowledge and wisdom onto the written page. The pressure was amplified because we knew we were not just writing a technical report that is driven by dominant forms of evidence, like statistics and other quantitative data. Rather, we were committed to writing the report in ways that center lived experiences and stories as trusted evidence for understanding realities and for making better decisions to address community needs and desires. This is not to say we don’t value dominant quantitative data – we understand its role in exposing disparities and holding dominant institutions accountable – but we wanted to write the report in a way that doesn’t privilege dominant data at the expense of people’s lived experiences. In writing up a research justice study – where the research is led by those most impacted by the issues being researched – we wanted to demonstrate how lived experiences and stories have the power to illuminate concerns and desired solutions. I believe we succeeded in this, but it was definitely the hardest part of this process. Ultimately, the learning that this process reaffirmed for me is to let the stories, the lived experiences, speak their truths. 

Why is this issue important to those outside of Clackamas County?

Partners and community members gathered at Clackamas Community College earlier this year to celebrate the completion of the report.

Most of us recognize the power of stories and the power of sharing our lived experiences to build and strengthen relationships, community, and a sense of belonging. We care about stories because they’re fundamentally about how people have experienced the world, continue to experience it, and desire to experience it. In other words, stories can tell us about “what was,” “what is,” and “what should be.” The power of stories is why folks should care about this report. It details what it takes to design a community-led process that centers stories in all of their complexities – telling us what’s working, what’s not, and what repair and healing mean for different communities; how to gather stories using a diversity of methods and approaches; what it looks like to pair stories with other kinds of evidence; and how to use stories responsibly to create meaningful changes. If you’ve ever wondered how to uplift the power of stories, and qualitative data broadly, this report provides one model for doing this. 

What are we doing to move the calls to action forward and how can people get involved?

We’ve been hosting calls with folks working in dominant institutions and community-based organizations and coalitions to provide guidance on what calls to action they can advance and how. Each conversation is tailored to the organization’s specific needs, access to resources, and experiences. 

We’ve also launched a mobilization survey for Clackamas county community members who are both unaffiliated and affiliated with organizations in the county. In the survey, folks can tell us which calls to action they are most interested in advancing and what (if any) organizing experience they have. We’ll use this information to organize community gatherings in 2025 to discuss strategies for mobilizing around one or several calls to action. These are also spaces to grow and strengthen community, since the lack of connection was one of the main concerns that people of color in Clackamas expressed.  

The antidote to fear is grassroots organizing.

In the weeks since the disastrous results of the 2024 election were announced, I’ve had the opportunity to sit down and strategize with grassroots leaders across movements for climate, environmental justice, and indigenous liberation, among others.

In space after space, something beautiful is happening: instead of isolating or playing the blame game, people in our movements are turning toward each other. In the face of violence and repression, what is heartening to me is how we keep coming back to our values and our connections with one another.

In the coming years, all of us will need to deepen our connections and practice solidarity to build strong, resilient movements that can defeat the far right and keep our communities safe. At APEN, building solidarity and connection across people and movements is at the core of our work.

APEN members at our Leaders Advance last month. Photo by Joyce Xi.

One place I’ve found strength and hope these last few weeks is in the herstories and resilience of our communities — from my own family to our APEN members.

When the future seems dark, I remember our Asian immigrant and refugee ancestors. I think of my own family — from my parents, who experienced and eventually fled the Marcos dictatorship in the Philippines to my cousins, who live there today under a new and brutally repressive regime yet keep showing up for their families and communities even when it puts their own lives at risk.

I think of our members who fled war, repression, and refugee camps to build a new life in California, only to face racism, pollution and displacement here. Who found each other in this new country and helped each other find housing, buy groceries and get their kids to school. Who have shown up again and again—from testifying at city council to running community meetings and marching in the street—to fight for a world where all of us have what we need to thrive.

It’s no secret that the threats we face are growing. Far-right politicians have weaponized fear, isolation, and misinformation to turn people against each other. Now, they are preparing to dismantle our few remaining environmental and climate protections while threatening deportation on a scale that would tear apart immigrant and refugee communities like ours.

But here’s the thing: our members know the antidote to fear. The antidote to fear is grassroots organizing.

Organizing is simply the practice of building power through connection across difference. Organizing is about having intentional conversations with your neighbor or coworker, even if you don’t agree with them about everything – because you know that through connection, you can find shared values and begin to work toward a shared vision for the future. Our organizers help members with housing applications, know their cousins’ names and their favorite boba spots, and check in to make sure our members are safe when there is a flaring incident or heat wave. 

As law-and-order rhetoric flooded the media in Oakland this year, our organizers responded by listening to and building deep relationships with working-class elders in Chinatown who felt unsafe in their neighborhood. We listened to what makes people feel safe, developed trust, and built support for real, community-led solutions – which we’re excited to share more about in the coming weeks.

We know that grassroots organizing works – because we’ve seen it happen. This year, our members and other communities living near the Chevron refinery in Richmond won a historic $550 million settlement from Chevron – building on decades of grassroots organizing in the community and becoming a model for refinery communities across the country.

APEN members at our Leaders Advance last month. Photo by Joyce Xi.

The years ahead will be tough, but this is how we will get through them: by investing in grassroots organizing and building solidarity for the long haul. 

To do that, we need your support. Your donation will help us hire organizers, pay for food and supplies at member meetings, and bring our members to Sacramento.

In the words of our Richmond member Richelle, who spoke at APEN’s 30th anniversary celebration this year:

Since joining APEN, I find myself feeling consistently supported and valued by other APEN leaders and have felt called to step into my own leadership, to use my voice and unique skill sets to create ripples towards a healthier future for Richmond.

Donate TODAY to help us fight back against the far right and invest in grassroots organizing for the long haul.

 

DONATE

Christine Cordero is one of APEN’s two Co-Directors. Raised by a Filipino immigrant family in the working class town of Pittsburg (no “h”), CA, Christine acts from the deep belief that we are stronger together and can go farther together than we ever could alone.

The post The antidote to fear is grassroots organizing. appeared first on Asian Pacific Environmental Network.

Donate to CCC

On a bright summer day, the Coalition of Communities of Color’s (CCC's) Climate and Health Coordinator stands in the blistering heat of East Portland. With barely a tree in sight—an unusual scene for a state like Oregon—it's a stark reminder of the environmental inequities that exist and vary by neighborhood. As we walked around Portland, we couldn’t help but wonder who were our communities really designed for?

At CCC, our mission is simple yet powerful: to advance racial justice through cross-cultural collaboration.

We work closely with 18 diverse and culturally-specific member organizations and a broad group of partners on a shared goal of driving meaningful change for our communities. 

One of the key ways we’re making progress collaboratively this year is through the Modernized Anti-racist Data Ecosystem (MADE) for Health Justice initiative.

MADE for Health Justice seeks to create an ecosystem rooted in community data—data that reflects the lived experiences of those most affected—to influence decision-making and address racial, health and environmental inequities in Multnomah County.

By centering the lived experiences of the community, we’re not just gathering data—we’re shaping a future where decisions are informed by those who have been historically marginalized by dominant systems.

Supporting CCC means you’ll be helping to bring this vision to life and making a real impact for climate and health justice. 

Join our mission this Giving Tuesday and make a donation today.

This year, we’re proud of the progress we’ve made, including:

• Convening an Advisory Council composed of 19 community-based organizations, alongside the City of Portland’s Bureau of Planning and Sustainability and Multnomah County’s Office of Sustainability and Health Department.

• Gaining a deeper understanding of local data resources and enhancing our knowledge of how government data systems operate.

• Drafting our first-ever values-based data charter.

• Supporting the City and County in preparing their systems to expand the use of community data and foster a cultural shift in how this data is viewed and utilized.

We’ve got exciting things in store for 2025, starting with the technical design and creation of our data ecosystem! Join our mailing list to stay updated for upcoming gatherings in the new year.