The evolving face of environmentalism

Published: Feb. 16, 2021, 10 a.m.

The early leaders of environmental groups were mostly people who saw their goal as saving endangered animals or national parks, and while they’ve broadened their targets in the past half century, their memberships still skew heavily white. Now, with environmental justice on the rise, people of color and low-income communities that have long on the periphery of the green movement are making their voices heard on the hazards of climate change and pollution that disproportionally harms them. POLITICO’s Zack Colman, on the importance of including these communities in the fight for environmental protection. Zack Colman is an energy reporter for POLITICO. Anthony Adragna is an energy reporter for POLITICO and host of POLITICO Energy. Carlos Prieto is a Politico podcast producer. Jenny Ament is the senior producer of POLITICO audio. Irene Noguchi is the executive producer of POLITICO audio.