HOUSTON, TEXAS - JULY 08: A person looks out towards the flooded interstate after Hurricane Beryl swept through the area on July 08, 2024 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Brandon Bell/Getty Images)
Penned October 18th, 2024
Texas’s Latino community represents a vital voting bloc whose support for climate-conscious leadership will be key in ensuring the election of leaders who prioritize addressing the climate crisis. With Latinos disproportionately aected by extreme weather, including rising temperatures, increased frequency of heat waves, and extreme drought conditions, along with rising energy costs, the stakes have never been higher.
As Hispanic Heritage Month draws to a close and early voting in Texas is beginning, we, the undersigned elected ocials and climate leaders in the state, stand united in emphasizing the critical role Latino voters will play in shaping the future of climate action. Their voices are essential to driving meaningful progress in our fight against climate change.
Extreme weather events disproportionately impact low-income Latino communities, which often experience higher temperatures, poorer air quality, and economic vulnerabilities. The Latino population is particularly vulnerable, as many work in outdoor jobs that expose them to extreme heat conditions, increasing the risk of heat-related illnesses and fatalities.
We have made historic strides in addressing climate change, particularly in ways that benefit Latino communities. In the state, the clean energy plan has already led to over 24,122 clean energy jobs. Texas alone has seen significant investments, including over$17.02 million in private clean energy projects. These gains are creating new good-paying jobs and helping families save on energy costs, which is crucial as utility bills are expected to rise due to the increased demand for cooling during extreme heat events.
We have also seen other important benefits come to our state. Thirty-two Texas school districts received over $90 million from the EPA’s Clean School Bus Rebate Program to purchase low- and zero-emission school buses, and 19 Texas school districts receivedover $104 million in funding through the first Clean School Bus Program Grants Competition. Additionally, thanks to tax credits covering 30% of the costs of installing solar panels, battery storage systems, and other home upgrades, an estimated 1 million Texas households are set to install rooftop solar panels – reducing energy costs and pollution. The results of these investments are essential for the health of our children, but this and the progress we have seen are at risk.
Project 2025 threatens to undo much of this progress, rolling back the protections that have kept vulnerable communities safer from the impacts of climate change, like high levels of pollution and severe drought. This would increase the economic and health burdens on Latino families, who are already on the frontlines of climate change. Latinos are 165% more likely to live in counties with unhealthy levels of pollution, and the rollback of emissions standards could lead to higher rates of asthma and respiratory illness.
Dismantling environmental programs could block access to $2.7 billion in funding for vulnerable communities, leaving them more exposed to the impacts of climate disasters like wildfires and floods. This would place Latino families, who already bear the brunt of climate change’s economic and health impacts, in an even more vulnerable position.
We, as elected officials and climate leaders, stand with Texas’ Latino voters. Your voice matters, and together, we can elect climate champions who prioritize protecting our environment and our future. We urge you to prioritize climate action when casting your ballots during this 2024 election. The future of our families, neighborhoods, and cities, depends on electing leaders who will defend our communities and expand the gains we’ve made in climate action.
Sincerely,
Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia
Congresswoman Veronica Escobar
Congressman Greg Casar
State Senator Jose Menendez
State Senator Carol Alvarado
State Senator Roland Gutierrez
State Representative Armando Martinez
State Representative Rafael Anchía
State Representative Terry Meza
State Representative Victoria Neave Criado
State Representative Jessica González
State Representative Christina Morales
State Representative Ana-Maria Ramos
State Representative Claudia Ordaz
State Representative Penny Morales Shaw
David Cortez, Sierra Club Lone Star Chapter
Virginia Palacios, Commission Shift Action
