A medida que nos acercamos al final del 2023, nuestro programa de Comunidades Sostenibles reflexiona sobre los logros en el sector del transporte a lo largo del año. Desde la introducción de nuevas regulaciones federales que abordan las emisiones del escape hasta la promulgación de legislación sobre vehículos limpios a nivel estatal, este año ha traído victorias significativas mientras destaca los esfuerzos continuos necesarios para el próximo año.
¡Compartamos contigo los momentos clave en transporte del año de nuestro programa de Comunidades Sostenibles!
1. La EPA publica nuevas normas que reducen las emisiones vehiculares.
En abril, la Agencia de Protección Ambiental de EE. UU. (EPA) presentó nuevos estándares de emisiones del escape para vehículos ligeros y pesados, convirtiéndolos en las regulaciones más estrictas hasta la fecha. Esto impone a los fabricantes de automóviles limitar la contaminación producida por los vehículos que venden, obligando a las empresas a adoptar tecnologías de vehículos más limpios para cumplir con estas regulaciones. El anuncio de la EPA fue notable, considerando que el transporte representa el 30% de las emisiones totales en EE. UU. Los estándares revisados ofrecen un camino para abordar el impacto desigual de las emisiones del transporte en las comunidades de primera línea, que a menudo residen cerca de las principales carreteras. La EPA prevé una reducción del 75% en las emisiones de automóviles y camionetas ligeras para 2030, ofreciendo un potencial sustancial para mejorar la salud y el bienestar en general.
La elaboración de normativas se publicó poco después de nuestra campaña publicitaria dirigida, creada en colaboración con el Centro para la Diversidad Biológica, instando a la administración Biden a invertir urgentemente en vehículos limpios y presionar a los fabricantes de automóviles para abordar la contaminación causada por sus automóviles a gasolina. Nuestros esfuerzos incluyeron un anuncio de página completa en el New York Times y una campaña de video en redes sociales, alcanzando a miles en línea. Posterior al anuncio, la EPA inició un período de comentarios públicos para que las personas expresaran sus opiniones sobre las regulaciones. Nuestro equipo de Comunidades Sostenibles GreenLatinos participó activamente en ambas audiencias organizadas por la EPA, enfatizando el papel crucial que desempeñan las normas de emisión sólidas para salvaguardar la salud de la comunidad latina.
¡Por supuesto, no nos detuvimos ahí! Nos unimos nuevamente al Centro para la Diversidad Biológica en una carta conjunta, instando aún más a la administración Biden a reducir significativamente las emisiones de vehículos a gasolina. Esta iniciativa obtuvo el respaldo de un total de 140 organizaciones.
2. Nos sumamos al camino hacia vehículos de cero emisiones.
En colaboración con otras 26 organizaciones, GreenLatinos patrocinó y ayudó a iniciar el Relevo Ruta Cero, un viaje en vehículo eléctrico que recorrió la nación desde Los Ángeles hasta Washington D.C. El propósito de este relevo fue entregar comentarios públicos a la sede de la EPA, abogando por la implementación de los estándares de autos limpios más sólidos. A lo largo del viaje, que comenzó en el punto de partida original de la histórica Ruta 66, se hicieron paradas en 9 estados. En cada ubicación, se llevó a cabo una conferencia de prensa para resaltar la importancia de reducir las emisiones del escape y fomentar la adopción generalizada de vehículos eléctricos. Como parte de esta campaña, patrocinamos anuncios en estaciones de autobuses en Washington D.C. para crear conciencia. Al final del relevo, entregamos más de 130,000 comentarios a la EPA. ¡Definitivamente, fue una campaña electrizante en la que participar!
3. La Administración Biden actualiza los Estándares CAFE.
Durante el verano, la Administración Nacional de Seguridad del Tráfico en Carreteras (NHTSA) presentó una propuesta para aumentar los estándares de eficiencia de combustible para 2032. El plan implica aumentar los requisitos de Consumo Promedio de Combustible Corporativo (CAFE) anualmente en un 2% para automóviles, un 4% para camionetas ligeras y un 10% para camiones pesados. Según la NHTSA, se espera que esta propuesta conserve aproximadamente 88 mil millones de galones de gasolina para 2050, lo que se traduce en ahorros de $52 mil millones y una reducción de 900 millones de toneladas de emisiones de dióxido de carbono. Estos estándares actualizados del CAFE están diseñados para complementar las recientes propuestas de la EPA sobre emisiones del escape. En un esfuerzo conjunto, 21 organizaciones se unieron a nosotros para instar a la NHTSA a implementar sólidos estándares de eficiencia de combustible para aliviar la carga de contaminación en las comunidades latinas.
4. Más estados avanzan en la adopción de regulaciones y estándares de vehículos limpios de Advanced Clean Car II.
Este año, tres estados adicionales han adoptado la regulación Advanced Clean Cars II (ACC II), que obliga a los fabricantes de automóviles a aumentar el porcentaje de ventas de vehículos de cero emisiones (ZEV, por sus siglas en inglés). Inicialmente creada en California en 2022 con el ambicioso objetivo de lograr 100 ventas de ZEV para 2035, ACC II o regulaciones similares han sido adoptadas ahora por Nueva México, Nueva Jersey y Delaware. Nueva Jersey implementará completamente la norma a mediados de diciembre, mientras que Nueva México y Delaware establecerán regulaciones para lograr el 82% de las ventas de ZEV para 2032. En colaboración con el Consejo de Defensa de Recursos Naturales, publicamos un documento informativo resaltando los beneficios de implementar ACC II en Nueva Jersey, junto con recomendaciones centradas en la equidad.
Además, hay victorias significativas en la reducción de emisiones de camiones diésel de servicio pesado. Nueva México adoptó regulaciones de Advanced Clean Trucks (ACT) y estándares Heavy-Duty Low NOx. California aprobó la regulación Advanced Clean Fleets, en línea con la meta del gobernador Gavin Newsom de una transición completa a camiones de emisiones cero para 2045. Ambas regulaciones anticipan beneficios multimillonarios y una reducción significativa en las emisiones anuales de gases de efecto invernadero.
5. ¿Qué nos depara el 2024?
Este año presenciamos un verdadero impulso hacia la adopción de más vehículos limpios en las carreteras. Hay mucho por esperar y mucho por hacer en el próximo año. Varios estados aún no han adoptado legislaciones estatales y federales que promueven vehículos limpios. Especialmente, estados como Arizona, Illinois, Nevada y Texas, donde hay una población latina significativa, tienen la oportunidad de obtener considerables beneficios para la salud y ahorros para los consumidores, como detallamos en nuestra hoja informativa.
También estamos emocionados de ver cómo más estados revisan sus planes de Infraestructura Nacional de Vehículos Eléctricos (NEVI), delineando estrategias para expandir las redes de estaciones de carga de vehículos eléctricos (EV). No podemos esperar para ver los resultados y los beneficios comunitarios derivados de estos planes NEVI actualizados. Este año, colaboramos en un informe que destaca formas de mejorar la equidad de los planes estatales NEVI, asegurando que las comunidades reciban los beneficios que les corresponden.
Se espera que el impulso en torno a la adopción de ACC II persista en el nuevo año, y aspiramos a ver el surgimiento de más opciones de movilidad limpia como resultado directo de esta adopción. Con este fin, hemos delineado formas en las que estos programas de movilidad limpia pueden trabajar en conjunto con la adopción de ACC II, colocando a las comunidades en la vanguardia de todo el proceso.
Al cerrar el capítulo de un gran año en el ámbito de los vehículos eléctricos, es prometedor reflexionar sobre los avances realizados en la promoción de una movilidad limpia y sostenible. Desde tasas de adopción más altas hasta hitos legislativos, el panorama de los vehículos eléctricos ha visto logros sorprendentes. La jornada hacia un mañana más verde continúa, y esperamos con entusiasmo aún mayores logros en el próximo año.
As we approach the end of 2023, our Sustainable Communities program reflects on the accomplishments in the transportation sector throughout the year. From the introduction of new federal regulations addressing tailpipe emissions to the enactment of clean vehicle legislation at the state level, this year has brought about significant victories while highlighting the ongoing efforts needed in the upcoming year.
Let’s share with you our key transportation highlights of the year from our Sustainable Communities program!
1. EPA releases new rules reducing vehicle emissions.
In April, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) unveiled new tailpipe emissions standards for light- and heavy-duty vehicles- making them the strongest regulations to date. This mandates that car manufacturers limit the pollution produced by the vehicles they sell, driving companies to embrace cleaner vehicle technologies to comply with these regulations. The EPA’s announcement was noteworthy, considering transportation makes up 30% of total emissions in the U.S. The revised standards provide a pathway towards addressing the unequal impact of transportation emission on frontline communities, often residing in close proximity to major roadways. The EPA predicts a 75% reduction in car and light truck emissions by 2030, offering substantial potential to enhance overall health and well-being.
The rulemaking was released shortly after our targeted ad campaign, created in collaboration with the Center for Biological Diversity, urging the Biden administration to urgently invest in clean vehicles and pressuring automakers to address the pollution caused by their gas-powered cars. Our efforts included a full-page ad in the New York Times and a video campaign on social media, reaching thousands online. Subsequent to the announcement, the EPA initiated a public comment period for individuals to express their opinions on the rulemaking. Our GreenLatinos Sustainable Communities team actively participated in both EPA-hosted hearings, emphasizing the crucial role strong emission standards play in safeguarding the health of the Latino community.
Of course, we did not stop there! We joined forces with the Center for Biological Diversity again on a sign-on letter, further urging the Biden administration to significantly reduce emissions from gas-powered vehicles. This initiative garnered support from a total of 140 organizations.
2. We joined the route to zero emission vehicles.
In collaboration with 26 other organizations, GreenLatinos sponsored and helped initiate the Route Zero Relay—an electric vehicle road trip spanning the nation from Los Angeles to DC. The purpose of this relay was to deliver public comments to the EPA headquarters, advocating for the implementation of the most robust clean car standards. Along the trip, which began at the original starting point of historic Route 66, stops were made in 9 states. At each location, a press conference was held to highlight the importance of reducing tailpipe emissions and widespread EV adoption. We sponsored bust station advertisements in DC as part of this campaign to spread awareness. At the end of the relay, over 130,000 were delivered to the EPA. This was definitely an electrifying campaign to take part in!
3. The Biden Administration updates CAFE Standards.
During the summer, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) unveiled a proposed hike of fuel economy standards by 2032. The plan entails increasing Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) requirements annually by 2% for passenger cars, 4% for light trucks, and 10% for heavy-duty trucks. According to NHTSA, this proposal is expected to conserve approximately 88 billion gallons of gasoline by 2050, translating to savings of $52 billion and a reduction in carbon dioxide emissions by 900 million tons. These updated CAFE standards are designed to complement the EPA's recently proposed tailpipe emission standards. In a collective effort, 21 organizations joined us in urging NHTSA to implement robust fuel economy standards to alleviate the pollution burden on Latino communities.
4. More states move to adopt Advanced Clean Car II regulations and clean vehicle standards.
This year, three additional states have embraced the Advanced Clean Cars II (ACC II) regulation, which mandates automakers to increase the percentage of zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) sales. Originally created in California in 2022 with an ambitious target of achieving 100 ZEV sales by 2035, ACC II or similar regulations have now been adopted by New Mexico, New Jersey, and Delaware. New Jersey will fully implement the rule in mid December, while New Mexico and Delaware will establish regulations to achieve 82% of ZEV sales by 2032. In collaboration with the Natural Resources Defense Council, we released a fact sheet highlighting the benefits of implementing ACC II in New Jersey, along with equity-focused recommendations.
Additionally, there are notable wins in reducing emissions from heavy-duty diesel trucks. New Mexico embraced Advanced Clean Trucks (ACT) and Heavy-Duty Low NOx standards. California passed the Advanced Clean Fleets regulation, aligning with Governor Gavin Newsom's 2045 goal for full zero-emissions truck transition. Both of these regulations anticipate billions in benefits and a significant reduction in annual greenhouse gas emissions.
5. What’s to come in 2024?
This year we witnessed a genuine push for more clean vehicles on the road. There is much to look forward to and lots to take action on in the coming year. Several states are yet to embrace both state and federal legislation promoting clean vehicles. Notably, states such as Arizona, Illinois, Nevada, and Texas, where there is a significant Latino population, stand to gain considerable health benefits and consumer savings, as detailed in our fact sheet.
We are also excited to see more states revising their National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) plans, delineating strategies for expanding electric vehicle (EV) charging station networks. We can’t wait to see the outcomes and community benefits resulting from these updated NEVI plans. This year, we collaborated on a report outlining ways to enhance the equity of state NEVI plans, ensuring that communities receive their due benefits.
The momentum surrounding the adoption of ACC II is expected to persist into the new year, and we aspire to see an emergence of more clean mobility options as a direct outcome of this adoption. To this end, we have outlined ways in which these clean mobility programs can work in tandem with ACC II adoption, placing communities at the forefront of the entire process.
As we close the chapter on a big year in the realm of electric vehicles, it is promising to reflect on the strides made in advancing clean and sustainable mobility. From increased adoption rates to legislative milestones, the electric vehicle landscape has seen amazing accomplishments. The journey toward a greener tomorrow is ongoing, and we eagerly anticipate even greater milestones in the coming year.
**Seguido en Español**
Jesús Ociel Baena Saucedo was the first openly nonbinary person to serve as a judge in México, where they served as a maestre (the legally recognized nonbinary word for magistrate en español) in the Aguascalientes state electoral court since October 1, 2022. They made Latin American history by being the first openly non-binary maestre across latinoámerica–and they were out and proud. Their social media accounts illuminate the love and power for LGBTQ+ communities, and their advocacy for the rights and visibility of LGBTQ+ communities entre México cannot be understated.
Baena Saucedo was the first person to obtain a nonbinary birth certificate in Coahuila, México, receive a nonbinary gender Mexican passport, and have the gender-neutral term for magistrate designated to their post as judge. Their advocacy and determination created a path for others to have the same recognition and rights by having the option to select the gender-neutral marker X on identification documents in addition to H and M for male and female.
Baena stressed that the LGBTIQ+ community should be allowed to be safe and have power at critical decision-making tables. Throughout their career, they advanced active civic engagement from the LGTBIQ+ community in the politics of México. Baena Saucedo advocated for access to inclusive bathrooms and issued guidance for including LGTBIQ+ people in the courtroom. In an October 2022 interview on CNN, they said, "In the upper echelons of power, which are generally men [...] Visibility allows us to normalize our presence; We want nothing more than to normalize our presence in public and private spaces.”
México is the country with the second most hate crimes in Latin America, where 305 acts of violence against LGBTIQ+ people have been documented between 2019 and 2022, according to the National Observatory of Hate Crimes Against LGBTI+ Persons in Mexico. After more than a year of threats to Baena Saucedo’s life (happening with more frequency as their prominence grew as a leading LGBTQI+ advocate), they and their partner Dorian Herrera were found dead in their home on November 13, 2023. The Associated Press recently reported controversy and corruption surrounding the facts about the death. The LGBTQ+ rights group, Letra S, in a press statement calls on the Aguascalientes Prosecutor’s office to pursue a thorough investigation of the incident to determine if the tragic deaths of Baena Saucedo and Herrera were a hate crime.
Baena Saucedo’s death is one of too many recent acts of violence against LGBTQIA+ Latin American activists and leaders. We remember the murder of Manuel (Manny) “Tortuguita” Esteban Paez Terán, a queer, non-binary, and Indigenous Venezuelan of Timoto-Cuica descent who was killed by Georgia state police while defending the Weelaunee forest from desecration in Atlanta. Across Latin America, Indigenous, queer, femme, and women land and water protectors are disproportionately killed, murdered, and incarcerated for their activism, regardless of the strategies they engage in.
GreenLatinos joins our communities in remembering Jesús Ociel Baena Saucedo’s bravery and honoring their lucha for LGBTQI+ communities worldwide. Baena Saucedo’s courage to live authentically and pridefully as a leader will continue to inspire our fight for environmental liberation. The fight for liberación ambiental is a fight for justice.
**Español**
Jesús Ociel Baena Saucedo fue la primera persona abiertamente no binaria en servir como juez en México, donde se desempeñó como maestre (la palabra no binaria legalmente reconocida para magistrado en español) en el tribunal electoral del estado de Aguascalientes desde el 1 de octubre de 2022. Hicieron latín historia de Estados Unidos por ser el primer maestre abiertamente no binario en América Latina, y estaban orgullosos. Sus cuentas de redes sociales iluminan el amor y el poder de las comunidades LGBTQ+, y su defensa de los derechos y la visibilidad de las comunidades LGBTQ+ en México no puede subestimarse.
Baena Saucedo fue la primera persona en obtener un certificado de nacimiento no binario en Coahuila, México, recibir un pasaporte mexicano de género no binario y tener el término de género neutral para magistrado designado para su cargo de juez. Su defensa y determinación crearon un camino para que otros tuvieran el mismo reconocimiento y derechos al tener la opción de seleccionar el marcador X de género neutral en los documentos de identificación, además de H y M para hombres y mujeres.
Baena destacó que se debe permitir que la comunidad LGBTIQ+ esté segura y tenga poder en las mesas críticas de toma de decisiones. A lo largo de su carrera, impulsaron el compromiso cívico activo de la comunidad LGTBIQ+ en la política de México. Baena Saucedo abogó por el acceso a baños inclusivos y emitió orientaciones para incluir a personas LGTBIQ+ en los tribunales. En una entrevista de octubre de 2022 en CNN, dijeron: "En las altas esferas del poder, que generalmente son hombres [...] La visibilidad nos permite normalizar nuestra presencia; no queremos nada más que normalizar nuestra presencia en espacios públicos y privados.”
México es el segundo país con más crímenes de odio en América Latina, donde se han documentado 305 actos de violencia contra personas LGBTIQ+ entre 2019 y 2022, según el Observatorio Nacional de Crímenes de Odio Contra Personas LGBTI+ en México. Después de más de un año de amenazas a la vida de Baena Saucedo (que ocurrieron con más frecuencia a medida que crecía su prominencia como destacado defensor LGBTQI+), ellos y su pareja Dorian Herrera fueron encontrados muertos en su casa el 13 de noviembre de 2023. El Associated Press informó recientemente controversia y corrupción en torno a los hechos sobre la muerte. El grupo de derechos LGBTQ+, Letra S, en un comunicado de prensa llama a la Fiscalía de Aguascalientes a realizar una investigación exhaustiva del incidente para determinar si las trágicas muertes de Baena Saucedo y Herrera fueron un crimen de odio.
La muerte de Baena Saucedo es uno de los muchos actos recientes de violencia contra activistas y líderes latinoamericanos LGBTQIA+. Recordamos el asesinato de Manuel (Manny) “Tortuguita” Esteban Paez Terán, un venezolano queer, no binario e indígena de ascendencia Timoto-Cuica que fue asesinado por la policía estatal de Georgia mientras defendía el bosque Weelaunee de la profanación en Atlanta. En toda América Latina, las mujeres indígenas, queer, femme y protectoras de la tierra y el agua son asesinadas, asesinadas y encarceladas de manera desproporcionada por su activismo, independientemente de las estrategias que emprendan.
GreenLatinos se une a nuestras comunidades para recordar la valentía de Jesús Ociel Baena Saucedo y honrar su lucha por las comunidades LGBTQI+ en todo el mundo. La valentía de Baena Saucedo de vivir auténtica y orgullosamente como líder seguirá inspirando nuestra lucha por la liberación ambiental. La lucha por la liberación ambiental es una lucha por la justicia.
On the second anniversary of the Infrastructure, Investment, and Jobs Act (IIJA) and increasingly bleak climate outlooks propjected in the Fifth National Climate Change Assessment, GreenLatinos asks, “what does this mean para nuestra comunidad?”
To understand the promise, potential, and shortcomings of the IIJA, GreenLatinos staff from the Public Lands, Water Equity and Ocean, and Climate Justice and Clean Air programs have identified investments from 23 programs across 5 federal agencies in the states of California, Colorado, Florida, New York, and Texas to better understand if the impact of the IIJA on Latine communities.
Our team found 308 individual projects comprising over $3 Billion worth of investment in the neighborhoods and ecosystems that are home to the increasingly growing Latine population of the United States.
We’ve found that across various categories of analysis, IIJA funds are in fact reaching Latine communities on broad levels such as their states of residence. Moreover, our 5 case studies and 7 appendices demonstrate several instances of individual or multiple agencies investing in Latine communities on a city, county, and regional-ecosystem level. Third, while the ratio to investments in infrastructure is overall smaller, there are several instances of Latine-led and Latine-serving universities, community groups, and nonprofit organizations receiving funds to build capacity to directly engage in environmental stewardship and addressing long standing environmental injustices.
2023 will likely be one of the hottest years on record after our extreme summer, including record-setting temperatures in June and July (Scientific American). As we enjoy the fall weather and find reprieve from prior scorching highs, it’s an important time to reflect on the leading weather-related killer in the U.S.: heat (EPA). But the burden of heat—and the associated health impacts and high costs of air conditioning—is not equally felt. Heat exposure is determined by where we work and live. As a group, Latinos face outsized heat risk, both because of broader employment patterns and because they are more likely to live in urban heat islands. Heat thus poses an outsized threat to the wellness and financial stability of Latino families all over the country (Union of Concerned Scientists). We, the authors, are committed to working, learning, and living environments in which Latinos feel included, welcomed, and safe from high temperatures. Read on to find out how you can help make that a reality!
We (the authors) are two mixed race Latinas living in Washington County, Oregon, part of the larger Portland metro area. Like many other Pacific Northwest residents, we were forced by the 2021 “heat dome” to recognize and confront the realities of a hotter climate (National Academies). In order to respond properly to the increasing heat risk, we need to collect data, adapt to the changing circumstances, and create equitable solutions that account for the additional heat burden borne by Latinos in our rapidly changing climate.
Heat poses a higher risk to Latinos as a group for a couple of reasons. For one, many Latinos work jobs which keep them outdoors, even during hot temperatures. Latinos are disproportionately represented in the agricultural, construction, and utility workforces (McKinsey & Company). For people who work outdoors, the increasingly severe and frequent heat waves in the U.S. not only pose increased physical risks but also financial risks because they reduce the number of safe workdays per year.
For another, racial minorities are more likely than white community members to live in urban areas. Latinos, in particular, are a highly urbanized population (Pew Research Center) and are more likely to live in low-income and inner-city neighborhoods with less vegetation and green space (Hispanic Action Fund). As thoughtfully covered by a prior GreenLatinos blogpost, these urbanized areas experience higher temperatures than their suburban and rural surroundings, in part because pavement, brick, and steel absorb, retain, and re-radiate heat (NASA). Dense urban areas can experience afternoon temperatures that are as much as 20°F warmer than their suburban or rural surroundings (NIHHIS). These high temperatures in urban heat islands are dangerous, threatening human health, contributing to energy poverty, and even undermining academic success (The Hill; Scientific American).
We still have a lot to learn about exactly how severe the air temperature differential is in urban heat islands. Luckily, this summer, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and CAPA Strategies invited local residents in over a dozen U.S. cities/counties (and Santiago, Chile) to map the hottest parts of their communities (NOAA). These resident “street scientists” traveled through their neighborhoods on one of the hottest days of the year with a heat sensor mounted on their car. The sensors recorded temperature, humidity, location, and time every second in order to understand how the human-built environment alters local temperatures. This data is then transformed into a high-resolution map that identifies the hottest and coolest places across neighborhoods (New York City example below). These “heat maps” of U.S. communities will be released throughout the next few months, which is where GreenLatinos’ members and allies come in.
[Image 1. Caption: NOAA worked with resident “street scientists” to map urban heat islands in multiple cities and counties in 14 states this summer and in one international city, Santiago, Chile. Image credit: NOAA]
The heat maps can and should inform hyper-local strategies to keep people safe. With Latino populations bearing an unequal exposure burden as the planet heats up due to climate change, solutions must be focused on protecting those most impacted. Here we offer a few examples. The maps can be used to identify the best location for a new public transit shelter or to prompt the residents of the hottest neighborhoods to check in on the most vulnerable. Find your local report and confirm your policy leaders have a copy; share the tool and insist that they use it. Urge your city councilors to apply the data to local zoning and investments decisions. Advise your state representative to use the tool to inform bills and funding priorities. Advocate for your park leaders to use the maps to increase shade canopy in the hottest neighborhoods.
[Image 2. Caption: New York City-based researchers and volunteers collected data to document neighborhood temperatures. Image Credit: CAPA Strategies.]
This work on heat dangers is important to the Latinidad community as a whole, and is especially so to the authors. Dr. Adelle Monteblanco is an Assistant Professor of Public Health at Pacific University (Forest Grove, Oregon) who focuses her research on vulnerable populations like pregnant people who may struggle to regulate their body temperature over prolonged heat exposure. Her work is increasingly relevant in a changing climate, for pregnant Latinas are already at greater risk for gestational diabetes and pregnancy-related blood pressure disorders (Salud); a hotter climate and more heat risk will create more consequences for Latinas’ maternal health. Felicita Monteblanco, Board Director at Tualatin Hills Park and Recreation (THPRD) (Beaverton, OR), celebrates the ways urban parks cool the air and mitigate the impact of the urban heat island effect; she and the THPRD team are eager to use the heat mapping data collected to shape their decision making, including the location of future parks.
We are invested in the long-term sustainability of our region and the health of its residents, just as you are invested in yours. Latines are a crucial part of the social, political, and economic fabric of our country, yet they carry a disproportionate heat burden. If your community is one of the many that were heat mapped this summer (Image 1), we hope you’ll engage by strategizing local solutions to reduce heat exposure and holding leaders accountable to equitable interventions. Latinx communities would benefit greatly from additional resources, including the creation of more shade from city planning projects, additional cooling centers, and active participation in government decision-making.
Author Bio
Dr. Adelle Monteblanco is an Assistant Professor of Public Health at Pacific University (Forest Grove, OR) where she teaches courses on environmental health and the built environment. Felicita Monteblanco is the Public Affairs Manager at Northwest Health Foundation (Portland, OR) and serves on the Board of Directors for Tualatin Hills Park and Recreation District (Beaverton, OR).
Image 3. Caption: Felicita and Adelle at a THPRD park. February 2023. Image credit: Felicita Monteblanco
