Current Campaigns
WE ACT works to build healthy communities through advocacy, research, and community-based participatory planning. Here are our active campaigns and projects.
Online Marketing of Toxic Skin Lighteners Report
WE ACT for Environmental Justice collaborates with the Zero Mercury Working Group, which released a report on the online marketing of skin lighteners that contain mercury, a dangerous neurotoxin. The report, Online Marketing of Toxic Skin Lighteners, was released at
National Building Pollution Report
Download and read The Outdoor Pollution Is Coming From Inside The House: National Building Pollution Report (PDF) we published with the Sierra Club and Physicians for Social Responsibility. Compiling national outdoor air pollution data from across the government and other
Sign Up for New York State’s Energy Affordability Program
Steps for Self-Enrollment into your Electric/Natural Gas Utility’s Energy Affordability Program What is the Energy Affordability Program (EAP)? The NYS Energy Affordability Program / Low-Income Bill Discount Program provides income-eligible consumers with a discount on their monthly electric
Asthma Policy Agenda
WE ACT for Environmental Justice has a long history of working to address asthma and the disproportionate rates of asthma that environmental justice communities must endure, from publishing our Unequal Air and Care: Federal Impact on Pediatric Asthma Disparities
Heat, Health, & Equity
NYC HEAT WAVE New York City declared its first official heatwave of the summer, from July 27-29, with temperatures exceeding 90 degrees three days in a row. During heatwaves, the Cooling Centers are open, and you can locate the one
New York State Extreme Heat Coalition
EXTREME HEAT COALITION: Catalyzing Legislative Action to Protect Communities Extreme heat is the deadliest impact of climate change, and communities of color are the most affected. In New York City, for example, 50 percent of the heat-related deaths are among Black/African
Emergency Preparedness: Climate Ready Uptown Plan
Because the climate crisis is disproportionately impacting communities of color, our Climate Justice Working Group partnered with East Harlem COAD and Harlem Emergency Network to develop a community-driven emergency preparedness plan for Northern Manhattan. You can download the plan in
Clean Air For The Long Haul: Dare to Breathe
THE DARE TO BREATHE CAMPAIGN We are Clean Air for the Long Haul — a powerful, diverse coalition of frontline activists and organizers leading the charge on federal rulemaking campaigns to reduce air pollution from power plants, cars, and
Beauty Inside Out
Big News: Mercury to be Phased Out of Cosmetics by 2025 Dr. Micaela Martinez was in Geneva for the Minamata Convention on Mercury, hosted by the United Nations, where she helped successfully advocate for the adoption of a treaty that
Out of Gas, In with Justice
Out of Gas, In with Justice Final Report Announcement: Out of Gas, In with Justice Report (PDF) Out of Gas, In with Justice Video (Link) Out of Gas, In with Justice Advocacy Webinar (Link) Out of Gas, In with
Climate Justice Pavilion at COP27
WE ACT for Environmental Justice, the Deep South Center for Environmental Justice, and the Bullard Center for Environmental and Climate Justice at Texas Southern University hosted the first-ever Climate Justice Pavilion inside the Blue Zone at COP27, the 2022
The Clean Water, Clean Air, Green Jobs Bond Act
The Clean Water, Clean Air, Green Jobs Bond Act The Clean Water, Clean Air, Green Jobs Bond Act is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to fund critical environmental initiatives here in New York State. It will provide money to clean our
Energy Efficiency
The Challenge On average, New Yorkers with a low or moderate income and New Yorkers of color pay a disproportionately higher percentage of their household income on energy. For many, their energy bill is their second largest monthly expense, behind
Utility Debt
Challenge In addition to the staggering human toll of COVID-19, the pandemic left many New Yorkers without a source of income, making it increasingly difficult to pay their bills – including their utility bills. In fact, more than one million
Waste Justice
WE ACT for Environmental Justice Composting Survey Take Our Composting Survey by April 23! THE PROBLEM New York City is considered one of the most wasteful cities in the country. New York City sends more than 14 million
Gas Free NY: New York State’s All-Electric Building Act
Did you know that your gas stove produces harmful indoor air pollution, including toxic gases such as nitrogen dioxide and carbon monoxide, which happen to be the same nasty gases that come out of a car’s exhaust pipe? In fact, studies have
Lead Service Lines
Underground pipes made of lead were commonly used to distribute drinking water, connecting the water main to homes and buildings. These pipes, known as a lead service line (LSL), were still being used in the 1980s, despite other countries restricting
East 125th Street Community Visioning Action Plan
East Harlem / El Barrio’s 125th Street corridor boasts the natural assets of a world-class cultural, business, and transportation center that could anchor good jobs, small businesses, green public spaces, and other services for the people who live, work, and
Gas Free NYC: Decarbonizing New York City’s Future Buildings with Local Law 154
Gas Free NYC: Decarbonizing New York City’s Future Buildings Seventy-one percent of New York City’s greenhouse gas emissions, the air pollution that causes climate change, come from buildings burning fossil fuels like natural gas. And studies have found that air
Electric School Buses
Challenge The transportation sector is one of the largest contributors to U.S. greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. New York City’s school bus system transports about 150,000 students daily. In New York City, low-income communities and communities of color are exposed
NYCHA Healthy Homes Campaign
What is a Healthy Home? According to the National Center for Healthy Housing, a healthy home is housing that is designed, constructed, maintained, and rehabilitated in a manner that is conducive to good occupant health. At WE ACT, we
NYC Cooling Centers
Extreme heat events are increasing in frequency, severity, and duration in New York City. There are a number of negative health impacts from extreme heat, including heat stress, dehydration, dizziness, and fainting. These impacts can lead to hospitalization, worsening of
Home Energy Assistance Program
What is HEAP? The Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) is a funding program from the federal and state government that assists eligible low-income households with their heating and cooling costs, energy crisis assistance, weatherization, and energy-related home repairs. In New
Solar Uptown Now Services Solar Workers Cooperative
The Challenge Low-income communities and communities of color are disproportionately impacted by the air pollution and greenhouse gases produced by burning fossil fuels to produce energy. In New York City, a study found that air pollution contributed to at least
Community Power: A Community Solar Project in East Harlem
The Challenge In the wake of Superstorm Sandy, WE ACT for Environmental Justice (WE ACT) worked with community members to develop a Northern Manhattan Climate Action plan. The plan identified the need for energy independence as a priority in Northern
Solar Uptown Now!
Solar Uptown Now brings northern Manhattan community members together to purchase solar as a group and lower the cost of solar installation.
PFAS
Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a group of man-made chemicals that are a public health and an environmental concern. The use of PFAS is widespread in the making of products that resist grease, oil, water, and stains – such
Phthalates
What Are Phthalates? (pronounced THAL-eights) are a group of chemicals linked to a variety of health concerns. They are used to make plastics more flexible, particularly polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastics, as well as a dissolving agent for other materials –
Environmental Justice, Health, and Carceral Facilities
WE ACT for Environmental Justice and Clean and Healthy New York released a report written by WE ACT’s Director of Policy Sonal Jessel, M.P.H. and Clean and Healthy New York’s Executive Director Bobbi Wilding, M.S. on policy recommendations for New
Hospital Community Benefits
WE ACT for Environmental Justice is working to achieve health equity by creating a bi-directional understanding between hospitals, community-based organizations (CBOs), and community members about how to focus on health prevention and address the social determinants of health. WE ACT
Climate Change and Its Impacts on Public Health in Inwood
Climate change can have serious impacts on the health of communities of color and low income, such as here in Inwood: • Climate change is causing more heat waves, which can lead to dehydration and hospitalizations. • More intense storms
Protecting NEPA
Read this Op-Ed on Why We Need to Protect NEPA by Peggy Shepard, Co-Founder and Executive Director of WE ACT for Environmental Justice, and Christy Goldfuss, Senior Vice President for Energy and Environment Policy at the Center for American Progress
Child Safe Products Act
Children of color are disproportionately exposed to toxic chemicals such as arsenic, formaldehyde, lead, mercury and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). Researchers have linked these and other toxic chemicals found in children’s toys and essential products to cancer, learning disorders,
Cleaner Air, Cleaner Communities
Low income and/or communities of color in the U.S. are more likely to be located near sources of pollution. As a result, these communities often experience negative health outcomes such as higher levels of asthma and heart disease. African American,
Northern Manhattan Climate Action (NMCA) Plan
A plan to create resilience in the face of the disproportionate impacts of climate change on poor and working class communities.
Dirty Facts: How EPA Budget Cuts Impact Vulnerable Communities
Historically, low income communities and communities of color have been disproportionately affected by environmental hazards and pollution. Vulnerable communities are less likely to have the resources to prevent and take on environmental disasters. That is why it is critical that
Coalition for Asthma Free Homes
We have created a prescription to address asthma and asthma disparities: healthy, affordable housing.
Environmental Justice Leadership Forum
The EJ Forum is a national coalition of 54 environmental justice organizations working together to advance climate justice.
Healthy and Sustainable Public Housing
New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) is the nation’s first and largest public housing agency. Housing nearly 600,000 residents, NYCHA’s mission is to provide decent, affordable housing to New Yorkers and access to social and community services. Decades after being
Unequal Air and Care: Asthma Disparities
How well are federal strategies to reduce disparities in the treatment and management of asthma working?
