UNC Environmental Summit - Staging Environmental Justice

Drone footage shows extensive flooding in Belhaven, North Carolina, after Hurricane Florence. Video shot by Tariq Zehawi and John Meore. USA TODAY.

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"We already know where the flood waters will go. They will follow a slow, predictable path. We know who lives in low lying areas, we know what neighborhoods are on the south side of the tracks. From Appalachia down, every town has Hillers and Creekers. Floodplains read like maps of the economy and race." Gwen Frisbie-Fulton, "North Carolina's Problem Isn't Florence, It's Poverty

The Environmental Protection Agency defines environmental justice as “the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, national origin, or income, with respect to the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies.” Their basic goal is for all people and communities across this nation to have clean air, land, and water. Unfortunately, that isn’t happening. What’s more, the continued denial of climate change and elimination of urgent environmental regulations are causing many communities to be at even greater risk. This creates such significant challenges for many marginalized and impoverished people, who are unable to leave their homes and communities and cannot afford costly measures to maintain a clean and healthy environment.  My Staging Environmental Justice Project aims to address these issues in North Carolina. I'm honored to take part in today's Environmental Summit to share my ideas and learn more about the needs of the community and the work of my colleagues.

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Please join us for the first UNC Environmental Summit
 
Faculty and staff are invited to build a platform for pan-campus environmental collaboration across research, education, engagement and campus operations. Come be a part of creating the environment at Carolina and contribute ideas for its development.
 
Pleasants Family Assembly Room
Wilson Library - 2nd floor
Friday, Nov. 9, 1-4 p.m.
Please register here:
https://ie.unc.edu/unc-environment-summit/  
 

The Environmental Summit
A Conversation on the Environment at Carolina
 
Agenda
1:00 – 1:20      Reception
1:20 – 1:30      Welcome Remarks
1:30 – 1:45      Chancellor Carol Folt
1:45 – 1:55      Framing the Conversation
1:55 – 2:45      Panel of Distinguished Faculty
Jacqueline Lawton, Assistant Professor – Department of Dramatic Art
Elizabeth Frankenberg, Professor – Department of Sociology, Director -Carolina Population Center
Greg Characklis, Philip C. Singer Distinguished Professor - Dept. of Environmental Sciences & Engineering, Director - Center on Financial Risk in Environmental Systems
Rachel Noble, Mary and Watts Hill Jr. Distinguished Professor - Institute of Marine Sciences
Diego Riveros-Iregui, Assistant Professor, Department of Geography
2:45 – 2:55      Coffee Break
2:55 – 3:40      Imagining the Environment at Carolina
3:40 – 4:00      Reception
 
 
Sponsored by:
Environment, Ecology, and Energy Program (E3P)
The Institute for Environment
Three Zeroes Initiative
Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering
North Carolina Policy Collaboratory