On Tuesday, September 22nd, WE ACT is hosting Envisioning the Future of the Environmental Justice Movement, a day-long (8:00 AM-7:30 PM) series of discussions on the future of the environmental justice movement. In commemoration of the 35th anniversary of the First National Environmental Justice Leadership Summit, the historic gathering that established the 17 Principles of Environmental Justice and helped shape the modern environmental justice movement, this special event will celebrate the movement’s accomplishments while bringing together leaders, advocates, researchers, policymakers, students, and community members to chart the path forward.
The event will take place at the Lee C. Bollinger Forum at Columbia University, which is located at 601 West 125th Street (the corner of Broadway & West 125th Street). It is co-hosted by WE ACT for Environmental Justice, the Columbia Climate School, and Beyond Petrochemicals. And it is free to all who register, though we gladly welcome donations. As we expect a high turnout, please only register for what you are certain you will attend.
Schedule
Below is the schedule for the day. Registrants are welcome to check off which sessions they are able to attend if they know so already. This is not binding and is helpful for us to determine the head count of each session.
8:30 AM
Registration, coffee, and light breakfast
9:00 AM
Welcome and Opening Remarks
Morning Sessions
9:45–10:45 AM
Fireside Chat: 35 Years Since the First National People of Color Environmental Leadership Summit
Several leaders of the monument will reflect on the historic First National Environmental Justice Leadership Summit – which was held in October 1991 in Washington, DC – and how it helped shape the movement.
11:00 AM–12:00 PM (concurrent sessions)
-The Role of Environmental Justice Academic Centers
-Community-Based Climate Resilience Solutions
A panel discussion on building climate resilience through policy, on-the-ground practice, and infrastructure investment in environmental justice communities.
12:15–1:15 PM
Lunch
Afternoon Sessions 1:30–2:30 PM (Concurrent Sessions)
-The Path Forward: Climate Policy and Regulations Beyond the Rollbacks
Panelists will chart a proactive agenda for climate action across the federal and New York landscapes, looking beyond the current rollbacks toward durable, ambitious policy.
-Voices Shaping the Next Generation of the Environmental Justice Movement (1:30–3:45 PM Extended Session)
This extended panel discussion puts a new generation of movement leaders in the room to discuss where they see the movement over the coming decade
2:45–3:45 PM
-The Cost of Cutting Corners: Permitting, Public Health & the Future of Environmental Justice
A panel discussion on the need to resist compromise and instead scale-up proven local solutions.
4:00–5:00 PM (Concurrent Sessions)
-Safe, Sustainable, and Affordable Housing
Housing sits at the intersection of health, climate, and economic justice – where a home should be affordable to keep, safe to live in, and built to last. This panel will explore how we deliver housing that meets all three demands at once.
-Data Centers: Lessons from Local Campaigns
This panel will convene experts that are confronting data centers from several regions to discuss the parallels and differences in their experiences and ultimately take away lessons on data center organizing from across the country.
5:30–7:30 PM Closing Reception (Atrium)
The Forum at Columbia University, 601 W 125th St, New York, NY 10027, USA