oklahoma have not passed significant legislation to promote a statewide goal or .... to climate change threat; plans for event response; and ..... after a disaster (Morrow, 2008) and may be limited in their ...... designates the appropriation of $22 million in grants and ..... wildfires and drought, the 2013 legislature will be charged.
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
II
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
24
TABLE 2. Number of Key Informants Interviewed per State
27
TABLE 3. Total Population and Change in Population by State and Region, 2000 and 2010
28
Map 1. Total Population by County, 2010
29
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
30
Map 3. Percent Black or African American by County, 2010
31
Map 4. Percent Change in Black or African American Population by County, 2000-2010
31
TABLE 5. Total Number, Percent and Percent Change in American Indian (AI) Population
by County, 2000-2010
32
Map 5. Percent American Indian Population by County, 2010
33
Map 6. Percent Change in American Indian Population by County, 2000-2010
33
TABLE 6. Number, Percent and Percent Change in Asian-American Population by County, 2000-2010
34
Map 7. Asian-American Population by County, 2010
35
Map 8. Percent Change in Asian-American Population by County, 2010
35
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
37
TABLE 8. Number and Percent of Population with Limited English Proficiency, by County, 2009
38
Map 11. Total Population with Limited English Proficiency by County, 2009
39
Map 12. Percent of Population with Limited English Proficiency by County, 2009
39
TABLE 9. Estimated Number of People and Percent of People (All Ages) in Poverty by County, 2010
40
Map 13. Percent Population (All Ages) in Poverty by County, 2010
41
Map 14. Number of People (All Ages) in Poverty by County, 2010
41
TABLE 10. Total and Percent of Population Under 5 Years and 65 Years and
4
Older by State and Region, 2010
42
Map 15. Percent of Population Under 5 Years in Age by County, 2010
43
Map 16. Percent of Population 65 Years or Over in Age by County, 2010
43
Map 17. Percent Rural Population by County, 2009
44
TABLE 11. Percent Rural Population by State and Region, 2009
44
Map 18. Percent of Households with Female Heads by County, 2010
45
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
47
Map 20. Percent Obese by County, 2007
47
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 (