On November 22, environmental justice organizations from 16 Louisiana parishes rallied at the Louisiana state capitol to urge Governor Landry and Louisiana’s leaders to take immediate steps toward a Just Transition, including cutting emissions, reducing pollution, investing in clean energy jobs, strengthening protections for communities along “Cancer Alley,” and creating pathways for Louisianans to thrive in a green economy.
The action featured the leadership of Rise St. James, a faith-based grassroots organization that is fighting for environmental justice as it works to defeat the proliferation of petrochemical industries in St. James Parish in Louisiana’s notorious “Cancer Alley.”
The call for the rally noted that Louisiana’s communities have been on the front lines of the climate crisis, with polluting industries endangering public health, displacing families, and damaging the environment. It said a Just Transition is essential to building a sustainable future that safeguards both workers and the communities they live in. The rally emphasized the need to:
- Shift from Extraction to Regeneration – End exploitative practices, transitioning to sustainable systems that restore our ecosystems.
- Center Equality and Justice – Ensure that those most impacted by environmental degradation lead the transition and benefit from its outcomes.
- Create Safe, Secure Jobs in a Green Economy – Provide union-protected, family-sustaining jobs in the sectors like clean energy, environmental restoration, and regenerative agriculture.
- Support Community Health and Resilience – Build infrastructure that prioritizes public health, especially in communities suffering from pollution-related illnesses.
- Protect Cultural and Indigenous Rights – Respect the rights and traditions of Louisiana’s diverse communities and Indigenous peoples in all climate efforts.