Environmental Justice and Equity Implementation Committee
The vision for Bethlehem’s Climate Action Plan is to implement just and equitable solutions to reduce the city’s emissions contributing to global climate change and prepare for the local impacts of increasing temperatures and precipitation. In Bethlehem and across the world, low-income populations and black, indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) have contributed the least to the problem of climate change but are already bearing the brunt of its impacts, including extreme heat and flooding. The disproportionate exposure of these frontline communities to climate-related harms is only projected to increase as global temperatures rise. In this way, every failure to act quickly and decisively on climate is an environmental justice issue.
The Environmental Justice and Equity Implementation Committee meets with the ideas and goals from this section in mind.
Phases
Identify Year 4 Goals
Year 4 Goals Include:
- Street tree planting project
- Upgrades to Friendship Park, Monocacy Way Phase II (Schoenersville Rd. to Sand Island) and the Bethlehem Rose Garden
- Partner with Lehigh University “to create an equitable, decarbonized energy future” through a Climate Action Plan Apprentice Program
- Work with CALV and City of Allentown through an EPA Community Change grant (if granted)
- Provide BASD students learning opportunity to explore city careers aligned with EJ
- Work with the Health Bureau to inform “Blue Zones” work
- Continue to meet bi-monthly with CADB’s Public and Green Space Committee
- Include Sustainability Manager on upcoming EJ priorities to use in implementation