climate change, environmental challenges and vulnerable communities

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Climate Change, Environmental Challenges and Vulnerable Communities: Assessing Legacies of the Past, Building Opportunities for the Future RESEARCH REPORT

February 2012

Climate Change, Environmental Challenges and Vulnerable Communities: Assessing Legacies of the Past, Building Opportunities for the Future

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Climate Change, Environmental Challenges and Vulnerable Communities: Assessing Legacies of the Past, Building Opportunities for the Future

foreword The Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies is grateful to the Texas Health Institute (THI) for a partnership that enabled us to develop a framework for assessing national research and programs on climate change and environmental priorities for vulnerable populations, especially communities of color. This report, Joint Center research project Climate Change, Environmental Challenges and Vulnerable Communities: Assessing Legacies of the Past, Building Opportunities for the Future, and its Executive Summary offer guidance to advocates, policymakers, researchers and others who must set priorities, so that they can avoid duplication, maximize the use of scarce resources and encourage the development of policies that engage diverse populations while bringing environmental justice to their communities. The report was prepared for the Joint Center by THI with project support from the U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture. We offer special thanks to members of the THI Project Team who prepared this report: Dennis Andrulis, Ph.D., M.P.H., Nadia Siddiqui, M.P.H. and Maria Rascati Cooper, M.A. We also are grateful to Gina E. Wood, Kellee James and Clori Jones of the Joint Center for their guidance and support. Finally, we want to offer our appreciation to members of the Commission to Engage African Americans on Climate Change who have provided content recommendations, direction and support throughout all phases of this project. Ralph B. Everett President and CEO Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies

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Climate Change, Environmental Challenges and Vulnerable Communities: Assessing Legacies of the Past, Building Opportunities for the Future

Acknowledgments The members of the Texas Health Institute Project Team are Dennis Andrulis, Ph.D., MPH, Nadia Siddiqui, MPH and Maria Rascati Cooper, M.A. The Project Team acknowledges and thanks the U.S. Forest Service and the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies for supporting this project. We also are grateful to Gina Wood and Kellee James of the Joint Center for their guidance in preparation of this report. Finally we want to offer our appreciation to members of the Commission to Engage African Americans on Climate Change who, with Center staff through their invaluable contributions, have provided content recommendations, direction and support throughout all phases of this project.

Prepared for: The Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies Prepared by: Texas Health Institute Project Support by: U.S. Forest Service U.S. Department of Agriculture

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Climate Change, Environmental Challenges and Vulnerable Communities: Assessing Legacies of the Past, Building Opportunities for the Future

TABLE OF CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

7

INTRODUCTION

7

RESEARCH DESIGN

8

MAJOR FINDINGS

9

RECOMMENDATIONS

15

Introduction

17

i. Background

18

Climate Change and Vulnerable Populations II. Methodology

18 22

Region Selection

22

Regional Study Design

24

iii. Regional Data Findings

28

Demographic Factors

28

Health and Health Care Measures

46

Climate Change Concerns and Impacts

51

iv. State, Local, and Regional Programs & Policies

69

Arizona

70

Arkansas

74

Louisiana

77

New Mexico

80

Oklahoma

83

Texas

86

Regional Programs and Policies

92

v. Discussion

95

Part I: Vulnerable Populations in the Context of Climate Change

95

Part II: State of Climate Change Programs and Policies Across the Region

98

Part III: Additional Barriers to Climate Change Progress

99

vi. Recommendations

100

Recommendations for State Level Actions

100

Recommendations for Community and Local Programs

101

vii. Conclusion

103

Bibliography

104

Appendix A: Site Selection Data

108

Appendix B: Key Informant Interview Protocol

112

Appendix C: National Compendium of Literature on Climate Change and Diverse Populations

114

Appendix D: Regional Compendium of Literature on Climate Change and Diverse Population

174

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Climate Change, Environmental Challenges and Vulnerable Communities: Assessing Legacies of the Past, Building Opportunities for the Future

List of tables, figures and maps Table 1. Indicators of Vulnerability to Climate Change   

23

FIGURE 1. Selected Region for Study   

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TABLE 2. Number of Key Informants Interviewed per State   

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TABLE 3. Total Population and Change in Population by State and Region, 2000 and 2010   

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Map 1. Total Population by County, 2010   

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Map 2. Change in Total Population by County, 2000 - 2010   

29

TABLE 4. Total, Percent and Percent Change in Black or African American Population

by State, 2000- 2010

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Map 3. Percent Black or African American by County, 2010

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Map 4. Percent Change in Black or African American Population by County, 2000-2010

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TABLE 5. Total Number, Percent and Percent Change in American Indian (AI) Population

by County, 2000-2010 

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Map 5. Percent American Indian Population by County, 2010

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Map 6. Percent Change in American Indian Population by County, 2000-2010

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TABLE 6. Number, Percent and Percent Change in Asian-American Population by County, 2000-2010

34

Map 7. Asian-American Population by County, 2010

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Map 8. Percent Change in Asian-American Population by County, 2010 

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TABLE 7. Number, Percent and Percent Change in Hispanic/Latino Population

(Of Any Race) by County, 2000-2010

36

Map 9. Percent Hispanic or Latino Population (Of Any Race) by County, 2010

37

Map 10. Percent Change in Hispanic or Latino Population (Of Any Race) by County, 2000-2010

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TABLE 8. Number and Percent of Population with Limited English Proficiency, by County, 2009

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Map 11. Total Population with Limited English Proficiency by County, 2009

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Map 12. Percent of Population with Limited English Proficiency by County, 2009

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TABLE 9. Estimated Number of People and Percent of People (All Ages) in Poverty by County, 2010

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Map 13. Percent Population (All Ages) in Poverty by County, 2010

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Map 14. Number of People (All Ages) in Poverty by County, 2010

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TABLE 10. Total and Percent of Population Under 5 Years and 65 Years and

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Older by State and Region, 2010

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Map 15. Percent of Population Under 5 Years in Age by County, 2010

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Map 16. Percent of Population 65 Years or Over in Age by County, 2010

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Map 17. Percent Rural Population by County, 2009

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TABLE 11. Percent Rural Population by State and Region, 2009

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Map 18. Percent of Households with Female Heads by County, 2010

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TABLE 12. Number and Percent of Households with Female Heads, by State and Region, 2010

45

TABLE 13. Health Status Measures by State and Region

46

Map 19. Percent Self-Reporting Fair or Poor Health Status, by County, 2007

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Map 20. Percent Obese by County, 2007

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Climate Change, Environmental Challenges and Vulnerable Communities: Assessing Legacies of the Past, Building Opportunities for the Future

Map 21. Percent Live Births with Low Birth Weight (