Well, that was an interesting first month of the year.

I hope all our readers got through the weather that battered our region in decent shape.

It was also a good reminder that whether it's heat waves, droughts, or ice storms, many recent weather-related events have likely been fueled by the worsening climate crisis. What was apparent is that many of us, including myself, were unprepared for what nature will likely continue to throw at us. While I've prepared for the big earthquake in recent years, it was apparent my preparation centered around an earthquake on a nice 75-degree day. 

Since then, I've been fortunate to have the resources to invest in a propane heater, firewood, and a long-overdue chimney service. 

But what about those in our community who are living on the margins? These neighbors often cannot meet their basic needs and struggle to live paycheck-to-paycheck. How are they coping with these natural disasters and environmental and climate-crisis-related challenges? 

Well, it could be a lot better. Metrics such as the wealth disparity point to a broken system. 

Adequate preparation for events like the recent ice storm seems like a tall, very unrealistic order for many.
 
The United Way released a 2023 report entitled COVID and Financial Hardship in Oregon. The report explored folks in the state the researchers coined ALICE: Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed. 

“(The ALICE population) more than the Federal Poverty Level, but not enough to afford the basics where they live,” stated the report. “ALICE workers were celebrated as essential heroes during the COVID-19 pandemic, yet they do not earn enough to support their own families. ALICE households and households in poverty are forced to make tough choices, such as deciding between quality child care or paying the rent — choices that have long-term consequences not only for their families, but for all.”

A couple of sobering statistics to consider from the report:

• 1.7 million households in Oregon, 744,895—44% —had income below the ALICE Threshold of Financial Survival in 2021.
• Disparities exist in the rates of financial hardship due to persistent racism, ageism, gender discrimination, and geographic barriers that limit many families’ access to resources and opportunities for financial stability. For example, by race/ethnicity, 54% of Hispanic, 56% of American Indian/Alaska Native, and 64% of Black households were below the ALICE Threshold in Oregon in 2021, compared to 40% of Asian and 42% of White households.

Even without any environmental or climate crisis roadblocks nature puts up, nearly half of Oregonians already face extreme hardships, making environmental justice and climate justice critical (click on the links for definitions). 

The key takeaway is that the most vulnerable populations are the most impacted by what happens in their environment and climate. A couple of statistics can help illustrate this.

• Although Black citizens make up 13 percent of the U.S. population, a startling 68 percent live within 30 miles of a coal-fired power plant, compared to 56 percent of White citizens.
• People in low-and lower-middle-income countries are around five times more likely than people in high-income countries to be displaced by sudden extreme weather disasters.

How can we work to overcome these injustices? It will take a complete overhaul of how we do business, govern, and live.

Yeah, that’s all.

But today, it starts with learning. And tomorrow, it will continue with action.