Perspectives on Sustainable Development
Environmental justice and climate change are driving decarbonization across industrial sectors and throughout everyday life. There are many nuanced issues that planners will face as they try to sustainably reshape our world. This podcast will focus on climate and EJ but also bring on associated experts to speak about how these issues affect their fields. From city planning, economic development, transportation, education, national security, mental health, manufacturing, supply chain...we should all be considering how climate and EJ considerations will affect our decision paradigms.
Join me every two weeks as we discuss critical issues with thought leaders who know them best.
Logo credit and general assistance: Uzziah Davis
Perspectives on Sustainable Development
Episode 14 - EJ in Chicago: Leaders, Allies, and Zoning Changes
Environmental Justice communities are diverse collections of perspectives, concerns, and drivers. No two are identical, but there are some common themes that most share. Love of their culture, protection of their communities and children, and concern that our planning systems have not historically taken their views into equal account when making decisions that would affect the community. Community leaders are the EJ experts. Outside expertise can come in to play a role but no one should mistake the fact that the people in these communities know this better than the rest of us.
This week Chris was joined by Naomi Davis, Founder and CEO of Blacks in Green, and Robert Weinstock, Director of the Environmental Advocacy Center at the Northwestern Pritzker School of Law. Both are at the forefront of critical EJ issues in the city and both were directly involved in the landmark HUD zoning case that everyone heard about a few years ago. They each come from different perspectives but each is a passionate story teller and brilliant mind when it comes to these issues.
Enjoy!
