A Memo to the League of Conservation Voters Regarding Equitable, Environmentally Just Carbon Taxes

*In 2016, the SOL program pivoted for the year to focus on political engagement in what was then called the “Political Engagement Pilot Project,” or PEPP. This was an alternative version of SOL that laid the groundwork for the development of the PEP program as it currently exists.

Our environment faces devastating problems—polluted air and water and extreme weather events from climate change are just a few. People are already suffering from these crippling disasters. Black, Asian American, Latino, Native American, and low-income communities are disproportionately affected by these detrimental environmental impacts, and race is the most significant predictor of a person living near contaminated air, water, or soil in the US. This is caused by the proximity of the fossil fuel industry to the homes, schools, and hospitals in neighborhoods of people of color. These problems together call for environmental justice (EJ). A problem of this size requires substantial action by many players. How can LCV promote EJ through the support of an equitable carbon tax to protect high-risk communities from the disproportionate effects of climate change that they face?