Make the Road unveils plan to fight climate crisis

Make the Road New York members, including Lolita Molina, described their efforts to engage low-income Queens residents in the fight against climate change. Eagle photo by Rachel Vick.

By Rachel Vick

An influential Jackson Heights community group has set its sights on fighting climate change throughout New York City’s underserved communities, as part of a larger plan to uplift low income New Yorkers and immigrants. 

Make the Road New York unveiled its climate action plan Wednesday following two years of community outreach in partnership with the Regional Plan Association. The joint initiative focuses on three major themes for educating and engaging communities facing the most severe consequences of the climate crisis: “adapt, mitigate and thrive.”

“If we don’t take action now, none of us are going to have a home,” said Julissa Bisono, associate organizing director at Make the Road New York. “El planeta es la casa del todo mundo.”

Make the Road and the RPA introduced pamphlets known as “Healthy Home Guides” in both English and Spanish to instruct residents about small changes they can make to promote sustainability, such as recycling and implementing energy efficiency devices. It also included outside resources. 

“Both organizations brought together technical know-how and on the ground outreach to build capacity for underrepresented communities in Queens who are typically left out of the planning process,” said Vanessa Barrios, a senior associate with the RPA.

Low income and other marginalized communities face the effects of climate change at disproportionate rates — a concept known as “climate injustice.” Residents of communities of color are more likely to be exposed to hazardous materials that cause health problems and to experience food insecurity, for example.

The “Climate Action Manual” created by the two organizations also outlines ways the state could apply the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act to protect low-income New Yorkers.

Make the Road board member Felipe Idrova, a longtime Queens resident, spoke in Spanish about the recommendations and elements of the plan. Housing justice, green jobs for women and people of color, and clean energy are key elements of a sustainable future, Idrova said.

“While we do the work to get there city-wide, we must prioritize environmentally burdened neighborhoods in phase one of our transition,” Idrova said in Spanish. “If low income communities are the first to hurt, we must be the first to thrive.”