--- title: Climate Experts Say Clean Energy Shift Can and Must Lift Up Poorer Communities | TIME description: Climate experts spoke with actor and environmental activist Shailene Woodley at the TIME100 Summit on Wednesday about ensuring that America not only moves toward a clean energy future, but that it happens equitably. canonical: https://time.com/video/nopztflG/ og:title: Climate Experts Say Clean Energy Shift Can and Must Lift Up Poorer Communities og:description: Climate experts spoke with actor and environmental activist Shailene Woodley at the TIME100 Summit on Wednesday about ensuring that America not only moves toward a clean energy future, but that it happens equitably. og:url: https://time.com/video/nopztflG/ og:image: https://cdn.jwplayer.com/v2/media/nopztflG/poster.jpg?width=720 og:type: video.other twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: Climate Experts Say Clean Energy Shift Can and Must Lift Up Poorer Communities twitter:description: Climate experts spoke with actor and environmental activist Shailene Woodley at the TIME100 Summit on Wednesday about ensuring that America not only moves toward a clean energy future, but that it happens equitably. twitter:image: https://cdn.jwplayer.com/v2/media/nopztflG/poster.jpg?width=720 --- # Climate Experts Say Clean Energy Shift Can and Must Lift Up Poorer Communities > Sponsored content. 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They are at time.com/newsletters and are separate from a paid subscription. ## Video: Climate Experts Say Clean Energy Shift Can and Must Lift Up Poorer Communities [Watch (HLS stream): Climate Experts Say Clean Energy Shift Can and Must Lift Up Poorer Communities](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/nopztflG.m3u8) (22:12)  _Published 2024-04-24. Climate experts spoke with actor and environmental activist Shailene Woodley at the TIME100 Summit on Wednesday about ensuring that America not only moves toward a clean energy future, but that it happens equitably._ --- Apr 30, 2024 3:04 PM UTC --- ## More From This Series [All Videos](https://time.com/video/) [TIME100 2023 Climate Leaders on Staying Inspired](/video/XiGTQ47A/) ### TIME100 2023 Climate Leaders on Staying Inspired [TIME100 Talks | Climate \(Full Event\)](/video/DUsU1AJr/) ### TIME100 Talks | Climate (Full Event) [Behind the Scenes of 'Divergent' With Shailene Woodley](/video/rjBaWbQB/) ### Behind the Scenes of 'Divergent' With Shailene Woodley --- ## Transcript So nice to be here with you all in with you guys. I'm genuinely so excited to talk to you and take your brains a little bit and have this conversation. I'm one of those things that excites me the most about what we can get into his doctor Bullard so much of your work is rooted and I mean all of it if I'm correct is rooted in climate Justice. Is that a correct way of saying it but you say okay in your answer, but I'm really curious to talk about intersectionality because I had this word gets thrown around so much in the space of climate conversation and I'm curious to hear what it means to both of you and to hear how you would Define that how you would Define climate Justice and why it's such an important way for all of us to start thinking about this conversation how we can participate let me just first say that first one the same time for having his panel. Before that was climate Justice that was environmental justice and environmental justice and braces all of it. When we live work play worship learn as well as the physical and natural world are 18 bucks or the last 45 years housing Transportation energy Health disaster food and water security. That's the way I would Define intersectionality. It's eighteen books, but it's just one booked, but don't tell me about it. You connect the dots and the the threat that we face today in terms of climate this threat to humanity makes it very clear that we have to get to Justice part in the climate in the energy and environment and it helps anything that brings it. All together is just as fairness and equity. Is that something that helps you? Stay optimistic in the way that you approach this work that you do domestic. It's one of the things that I really love about both of you. Is that it there so much fear that can come up in the conversation because it is a very real thing and yet every time I've heard both of you speak there does seem to be so much hope and so much optimism intersectionality is both a strength of those of us who work on climate and also an incredible challenge for the following reason those who oppose the transition toward a stable climate a stable Society stable economy can actually afford the false luxury of just focusing on one thing. Let us delay climate policy and that's All they care about their focus their you know, one one track mind and they're pretty effective because it's a one track Mike those of us who believe in God we actually have to try and that this is a complicated complex condition understand that all of the not just the environmental but all of this social issues the environmental issues the political issues that the cultural issues that all of that is part of the transition that makes it more complex more challenging and more necessary because there's no way that we're going to solve I'm a changed with technological one day right? It's not okay. We're just going to substitute. I don't know Kohl's for solar know that's not going to do it that's not going to cut it. And so that is the part of me that I feel. This is so important because this is an evolution of not just the economy. Not just the energy sector. This is an evolution of us humans. How much of this complexity can we actually put on arms around and embrace and move forward because all of this is mutually reinforcing but you can understand that for someone who has a single purpose they can probably walk faster because it's just they see it in an irresponsible simplistic white. So that's why I think it's both the strength and the challenge of those of us who work on these issues. What gives me optimism is the fact that? Arm movement for environment and climate Justice and the whole idea's framing a has moved from the problem being climate change parts per million greenhouse gases to this whole idea that we in in order to have salute real solution is not false Illusions. We have to bring those communities that are most impacted by climate change and all the other catastrophes poverty lack of having basic basic necessities. Bring them in yet. Their views have them in those rooms at the Stables so we can come up with real solutions together and not having this this elitist top-down people saying, well, we know what's best. That's our movement. And the other part is we have our movement today is intergenerational. I tell people I'm a boomer proud of it still fighting Still Standing, but Millennials Gen X Y, Zoomers outnumber My Generation they're beginning to come into that new majority. That gives me hope Chilling, you know, we were just talking about the new terms coming into our lingo and I think intersectionality came in. I don't know how many years ago but I was thinking the other day actually win the world adopted all of the sustainable development goals in 2015. That was the first I would say formal recognition that all of these issues are actually intertwined. You cannot separate one of those sustainable development goals 1st and say, okay we're going to work on this one and the rest were going to forget about it. Then you just doesn't happen. That's not the way into reality works. And so I'm actually grateful that there is a formal recognition of the fact that all of this is mutually inclusive even before the word intersectionality was put on the table that was already a formal recognition. Can you can you maybe give us an example of what one of these communities is actually facing because I think often times people don't know the reality of what is happening on the ground because so often those voices aren't included in the conversation and in my personal experience of being involved in both Grassroots efforts, and then also kind of being in the elitist rooms. There seems to be no bridge between the two it seems like nobody like everyone has a different opinion on what will work and what is right and how we solve this but it really is the great known. So in that example, can you explain why those voices are so important to include and why we should be listening to them more. Yes. birthday 1st birthday 1970 April it looks it looks a whole lot different than our celebration couple of days ago in terms of the diversity and the breadth of what we talked about. I live in Texas another country and in the Gulf Coast. Refinery special chemical fossil fuel as rule for many decades and the the consequences of those communities that are at the fence line. Who are getting all of these formalities all the cost and the benefits are to people who drive in work drive out, but when you talk about whether or not we should transition in many ways to clean energy and that transition should not make the same mistake of over just allowing fenceline communities to suffer the breed the pollution and not benefit from the jobs and economic. In many cases the communities that live close to those plants or worse off when it comes to their economic. There's no economic Renaissance along the fence line and Louisiana's cancer. Allie wark uses chemical Florida on the show channel. So what I'm saying is that those communities that historic have been left out their voices are not been in the room when decision being made about policy have to be in those rooms. They know better in many cases those people who have lived their lives along the worst of the conditions when it comes to hurricanes flooding they have phds and living and and they have wisdom and they have knowledge and that knowledge needs to be in those rooms at the highest level in the Oval Office. I've been to two signings of executive orders on environment just as one was signed in 1994 by President Clinton in February and last ate last April. Prison by and sign another executive order on environment just 29 years apart in 1994. That was not a nickel for environmental justice today. There's a reduction that goes 369 dealing with that 60 billion Oz would it be 4 in vinyl just another 60 billion for clean energy transition. So the idea is that we move from a footnote in 1969. When I started to now there's money sword and there's more people in the room to decide what we need to do about transitioning in a fair just in there for the boy. And that situation that the IRA has brought here, which is honestly the most far-reaching legislation there is in the world United States went from -40 on policy to the top with out with the IRA in the other attendants regulations that does not exist. In other countries. Is it really is a Hallmark of the wisdom and the vision of the United States in that moment and it is having an incredible effect on those who need it most. Now let's go beyond. This could be on Texas the country and Beyond the United States the country incredible heat waves across large swaths of Africa just two weeks ago. What recourse do these people have 00 so mostly women whose partners are not there because they've gone to cities to work and get some money and there they are killing the land with two three four children tilling the land that is every day more and more dried less fertile and they have to feed their children. And what is the support for that? So the wisdom of the IRA is wisdom in the United States that has not been followed at the international level. We still do not have the support for people who have not cause of climate change talk about climate Justice. None of those people cause climate change and yet they are the ones that are being most deeply and most painfully impacted zero help. There is very very little help in fact Pleasant life help from what we called climate adaptation or or loss loss and damage and that to me is one of the main Injustice there many in justices and that is one of the main ones. Yeah. It's so easy. I think for people to feel apathetic towards this conversation when it's not something we have to deal with every single day or two on the front lines of our community or our daily life styles. But what are the ways that you feel like other any of us in this room can contribute in a meaningful way and be supportive open the conversation up more because I do think the second that we use the word climate change or it can create a divided people can shut down either from fear and apathy and I'm going to freeze by completely freeze mode or people can go into and an actionable State and and do something and activate themselves and their communities. What does that look like? Guys, I know it's a huge question. But is there anything all of us could walk away from and go actually I can be involved in a meaningful way. Even if it's just a small piece of the puzzle. Let me just say climate change talking about the United States. There's no part of the country that is not impact of climate change and it's real the challenge is the fact that there's some areas of the country that are more impact than. Is there some states that are more active in dealing with the issues in terms of moving to a cleaner energy and in building more resilience in terms of cities and other areas and addressing some of the think there's some areas the fact that if you put on a mat and I've done this a great deal for Matt and and Matt were the economic disparities by ZIP code or by census tract and map that and see overlaid with race income vulnerability. You can see that they are there a tremendous disparities in terms of which states and areas are moving fast and furious to start to address these issues putting monies resources investment in which areas are slow to move. I wrote a book called dumping in Dixie. There's a there's a Dixie mentality across this country in terms of some steaks and some officials that are not willing to invest and put the money where the needs are now that's a reality that the fact that all that states are not treated equal or region not created equal and so the impacts of climate change and and this climate crisis will disappoint impacted areas that are not investing and moving fast and furious with real solution and not fall Solutions. So I have used the word climate change because the invitation to sit up here is to talk about climate change, but I actually prefer not to use the word because as you say to me you say climate change and you know the shutters go down and you can see people don't like me. Try to invite someone for dinner and start a conversation about climate change rate is like gone you don't you don't get through the first course. I don't really recommend. Because the fact is that climate change is so Kaleidoscope big fat and yes, there's a huge part of solidarity. That is their yes. There's a huge part of investment into the new technologies. Yes. There is a huge part of historical responsibility in this country above all but not only in this country, All of that is true what we do not tend to look at is oh my God. This is a whack on the head for catapulting us toward a much better world a world that is healthier where our children will not be breathing polluted air a world. It is more efficient where you don't spend as much time get play Sada Place beef a world where we have energy Independence and you don't have to have the nightmares in the Ukraine, right and the weaponizing of fossil fuels a world. which men and women actually collaborate at the same level so Why do we always focus on all of the negative actions and their their I'm not meaning to say that they're not and I am so for for highlighting that as long as it doesn't obscure the opportunities that are broad with the transition that is facing us right now and that we can do that is actually already underway. Did you know that last year 30% of all electricity generation the world was all way to renewable why because they're better Technologies are cheaper there more they have a higher performance. They're more reliable and exponential growth of wind of solar of Eevee's of batteries. So we are in the process of transformation. The only question is is it going to be fast enough to avert the worst impacts that is where I think individuals need to come in sooner. I need to come in as voters to say. Okay. I know that this is going to be a better world. I'm going to vote for leaders at all levels of the system starting with City and going all the way up who actually understand that there's a huge opportunity here individuals as Isotoners, where are your savings? Do you know exactly what you're asked the manager is doing with your savings if those savings are in fossil fuels you're not helping you totally know, right? So, how's your asset manager? Where are my where are my saying is that insist on her portfolio? That is fossil-fuel-free and are many opportunities have a strong portfolio that doesn't support the the Technologies of all of the Legacy companies that are being so obstreperous about the change that they could actually accelerate in addition to the fact. But we can use our voices right we can contribute to The Narrative of the excitement of better world not just the negative but I have a podcast that is called out great and optimism because I am so convinced that we have to be outraged about what is happening and how delayed we are also optimistic about her so much better work on it is staring Us in the face, so won't wake up move on like I'm an educator and I'm a sociologist. I tell people I don't do your did social scientists sociology. I do with all the scientific sociology. What we had to do is convince people. I live in the Gulf Coast we should plan for disasters June through November that's hurricane season if you don't know but winter storm 21 in February, what does degrees when it went down at 9° 9 single digit in Houston the Gulf Coast, which means that we can't just plan for disasters June to November. We have to plan year-round in dealing with this crisis which means changing our mindset and to go after the resources and the money that's available so that we can plan for like our Center is a center that works directly with communities in partnership with I serve on the White House around us. Is that right as your counsel and we had that have advised the White House that they need to put money into solar and make the money is available easier to get to the communities and organizations that do the work I sent it. In January got a 50 million dollar fifty fifty million dollar Grant make environment grantmakers program to in region 6 ETA to go to organizations that work on issues climate Solutions Environmental Solutions Energy Solutions are Center in partnership with a clean phone of Texas, which is a green bag. Just got 156 million-dollar Justin Allison Earth Day to deal with the same issues of transitioning many of our he start historically black colleges and universities and the communities that they're in solarizing is a soul for all we're talking about getting access and training educating and informing our universities and Community Partnerships so that we go back and get it thank over go back and put our money do staxmontana and no communities that have been left out Left Behind. We're saying we're making sure that they get in the front of the line so that the way it happened in the past. What time is it in the queue? The money is gone no more that that's justice, justice energy Justice and Justice. There's about a thousand more questions that I asked you guys, and I'm sure you guys want answers to I just want to say thank you so much. I feel like both of you really leave from your house in a conversation that can be so dominated by intellect and heady Concepts and feel unreachable to so many people including myself, and I just appreciate the way you guys you lead with your heart and something that should be like with our hearts and thank you. Thank you so much. 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