Perry Bryant, perrybryantwv@outlook.com; Phone 304-533-7941
Charleston, WV -- Today, a newly formed West Virginia Climate Alliance, a group of local environmental and social justice organizations with the intent of promoting public education and beginning a dialogue with the citizens of West Virginia on the impending climate crisis. Today they released a new 16-page report titled A Citizen’s Guide to Climate Change. The Guide, written by West Virginians for West Virginians according to the front cover, is an effort to educate the public on the causes of climate change and provide common-sense solutions that center around environmental justice and just transition to clean energy for impacted workers and frontline communities The report can be found at this link.
Perry Bryant, a member of the Alliance, said, “This Guide is the beginning of a dialogue with West Virginians. Regardless of who wins the election this November, climate change legislation is likely to be considered in 2021. West Virginians need to understand the range of options for addressing climate change and how these options will affect our state and its people.”
The group is currently comprised of community organizations including the West Virginia Rivers Coalition, West Virginia Citizens Action Education Fund, NAACP Charleston Branch, Citizens’ Climate Lobby West Virginia, Sierra Club of West Virginia, Moms Clean Air Force West Virginia Chapter, , Ohio Valley Environmental Coalition, American Friend Service Committee, Center for Energy and Sustainable Development, Christians for the Mountains, and West Virginia University Mountain Hydrology Lab . The hope is that more organizations will join and collaborate to influence climate policies at the national and state level.
Angie Rosser, Executive Director of West Virginia Rivers Coalition, released the following statement:
“We’re noticing more West Virginians seeking to have a better understanding of climate change. It’s a complex issue with many implications for our state, and this guide is a starting point for people to become more informed.”
Gary Zuckett, Executive Director of West Virginia Citizen Action Education Fund, released the following statement:
“Different organizations have different approaches to addressing climate change. But we are united in our desire to provide a detailed yet readable discussion of the causes, impacts, and potential solutions to one of the most challenging issues of our times,”
Pam Nixon, the former Consumer Advocate for the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection, released the following statement:
“Environmental justice ensures that low-income people and people of color have a voice in the development of solutions and are not disproportionately affected by climate change solutions,”
Jim Probst, the State Coordinator for Citizens’ Climate Lobby, released the following statement:
“Coal miners and coal communities are going to be impacted by moving to a low-carbon economy. It is a moral imperative that we provide meaningful assistance to those impacted by this necessary change. This assistance should include protection of health care and retirement programs, quality retraining program, and other assistance,”
Jim Kotcon, Chair of the Conservation Committee for the WV Chapter of Sierra Club, released the following statement:
“Climate change is real and it’s happening now in West Virginia. The first step in holding a dialogue on climate change is public education about the science of climate change and understanding what is being proposed to address climate change”
Leah Barbour, of Moms Clean Air Force West Virginia Chapter, released the following statement:
“Our society has an obligation to leave our children a healthy environment so they can grow and prosper. Providing public education on this complex issue is the first step towards having a meaningful dialogue on the pressing issue of climate change.”
Robin Blakeman, Project Coordinator for the Ohio Valley Environmental Coalition, released the following statement:
"This guide is a reminder to our elected leaders to take urgent action on these issues. With devastating wildfires out West, intensifying storms in the Gulf area, and increasingly frequent floods in our state and region, the survival of many species, including our own, depends on acting now."
About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with more than 3.5 million members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.