Trump plans fossil fuel push that could harm Black communities
Donald Trump’s proposed environmental rollbacks and fossil fuel agenda threaten Black communities already facing the worst impacts of pollution and climate change.
Adam Mahoney reports for Capital B.
In short:
- Trump’s policy plans include withdrawing from the Paris climate agreement, eliminating key climate protections and prioritizing fossil fuels over renewable energy.
- Black communities in pollution-heavy “sacrifice zones” like Louisiana and Texas are likely to bear the brunt of increased industrial emissions and weaker environmental protections.
- Climate advocates warn that reversing Biden-era progress could intensify global warming and disproportionately harm vulnerable populations.
Key quote:
“We have known the hope of promises made, the joy of promises kept, and the bitterness of promises broken.”
— Beverly Wright, founder of the Deep South Center for Environmental Justice
Why this matters:
Environmental hazards have long placed a disproportionate burden on communities of color, a grim reality tied to systemic inequities in housing, industrial zoning and access to clean air and water. Studies have consistently shown that neighborhoods with higher populations of Black, Latino, Indigenous and other marginalized groups are more likely to be located near highways, factories and waste facilities — sources of pollutants linked to asthma, cancer, and heart disease. Reversing environmental protections near these areas not only exacerbates existing health disparities but also undermines economic stability. Poor air and water quality can increase medical expenses, reduce workplace productivity and hinder educational outcomes for children, creating a ripple effect that traps families in cycles of poverty and poor health.
Related: Trump’s climate rollback plans could harm Black communities most
