
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
S2 E9 - Policy Development: Protecting Public Health and Economic Opportunity
There's a common fallacy out there that public policy that is protective of public health is likely bad for bottom lines. That could not be further from the truth. Sound policy is protective but in a sustainable way that also promotes economic growth.
For this episode, who better to talk about taking on complex policy development, than two people who have done it at the highest levels? Sandra Whitehead is an expert on cumulative health impacts, a professor at GW, and formerly a member of the White House EJ Advisory Council. Ryan Hathaway is currently with Lawyers for Good Government, and was the Director for Environmental Justice with CEQ and previously the EJ Coordinator with the Department of the Interior. Both Sandra and Ryan share my desire for objectivity and passion for following the numbers.
They were gracious enough to share insights from their work with the previous administration and many forward looking thoughts on major policy development. Protecting public health and promoting economic development are not mutually exclusive.
Enjoy the episode!