Our Current Initiatives

This Semester’s Theme

Prioritizing reduction of carbon emissions to mitigate disproportionate impacts of air pollution and climate change on community health.

A 2021 study found that in West and Downtown Oakland, where more than 70% of the population is people of color, up to 1 in 2 new childhood asthma cases were due to traffic-related air pollution. By contrast, in an Oakland Hills neighborhood where more than 70% of the population is white, the fraction of childhood asthma from pollution is much lower—about 1 in every 5 cases. (Environmental Health Perspectives, Assessing the Distribution of Air Pollution Health Risks within Cities: A neighborhood-scale Analysis Leveraging High-Resolution Data Sets in the Bay Area, California). In Richmond, where more than 80% of residents are people of color and the median household income is below the California state average, children have roughly twice the rate of asthma as their neighbors countywide. (The Guardian, Richmond v Chevron: the California city taking on its most powerful polluter). 

To achieve a healthier and more equitable future, we must take a practical, educational, and sustainability-driven approach that emphasizes reducing carbon emissions and addressing the root causes of environmental injustice. By promoting policies and practices that reduce pollution and improve air quality, we can protect the health of vulnerable communities and foster a sustainable environment for all.

Join us in our mission to create a healthier planet and improve the well-being of all communities. Stay updated with EthiCAL Apparel this semester to learn more!