WE ACT for Environmental Justice

NEPA Does Not Delay Deregulation is Not the Solution for Clean Energy

And the premise for needing #SPEEDAct #PermittingReform is essentially made up. Check out this cool story map from @weact4ej.bsky.social:

We’re proud to welcome environmental justice pioneer Charles Lee to our Advisory Board.

A Scholar in Residence at Howard University School of Law, he authored the 1987 “Toxic Wastes and Race” report and helped launch the EPA’s Office of Environmental Justice and the National EJ Advisory Council.

We are proud to announce that Basil Seggos has joined our Board of Directors. Currently a Partner & Senior Policy Director at Foley Hoag, Basil served as Commissioner of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and Co-Chair of the New York State Climate Action Council.

What are cumulative impacts? They’re the combined pollution burdens and disinvestment hitting low-income frontline communities. Strong policies are essential for fair, healthy, safe neighborhoods.

🎧 Listen to the full episode here: eelp.law.harvard.edu/cleanlaw-cum...

People power created the EPA — now its mission is under threat as protections roll back and frontline communities pay the price.

Clean air and a livable planet are our rights. Spread the word, contact your reps, and join the push for a stronger EPA. #JusticeisintheAir #ThePeoplesEPA

HEAP is now open❄️—an essential support for low-income frontline communities facing high winter energy bills.

Apply at mybenefits.ny.gov and learn more at otda.ny.gov/programs/heap. Everyone deserves affordable, safe heat. #EnergyJustice

It's been a tough year, but we are thankful for the many victories we helped achieve at the city, state, & federal levels. Follow the link to read about them Peggy Shepard on the Mamdani transition team, and take advantage of a matching gift to double your donation!
mailchi.mp/weact/we-act...

Are you a Manhattan resident or small business owner looking to sign up for clean energy retrofits?

Interested in learning more about green jobs you may qualify for?

Fill out this form to learn more about the Manhattan Clean Energy Hub: manhattancleanenergyhub.org/form/

Rally with us Monday 11/24 at 12 PM in Foley Square to demand real investment in NYC park bathrooms & drinking fountains. Then head to the 1 PM Council hearing. Make your voice heard & sign the petition: bit.ly/nycparksbathrooms

Join us tomorrow 11/24, 12pm in Foley Square!

Rally to fix + fund parks bathrooms w/ @ny4p.bsky.social CMs Shekar @sandynurse.bsky.social @shahanafrombk.bsky.social @chrismartenyc.bsky.social @weact4ej.bsky.social @34ave.bsky.social +

Join us for Riding Out the (Heat) Wave, a community panel on how extreme heat impacts environmental justice communities and what we can do to better protect our neighbors.

📅 Nov 18, 2025 | 🕡 6:30–8 PM

📍 Esperanza Prep Magnet School (M372)

RSVP: bit.ly/ejnycevent

Leading with Justice: Principles for Community-Based Participatory Research—co-hosted by WE ACT and the Environmental Justice Leadership Forum—is now live!

Learn practical tips for planning community-led research and strengthening environmental justice work.

▶️ Full recap: youtu.be/44Gw2QFYcPk?...

Environmental justice work continues, despite pushback Billions of dollars once dedicated to environmental justice projects has been cut, stalling progress.

Denise Patel, National Organizing Director of EJLF and @weact4ej.bsky.social , spoke at APHA’s “Meeting the Moment in Environmental Health” session on how federal environmental‑health policy changes affect environmental‑justice communities.

Read more: www.apha.org/publications...

WE ACT and MOCEJ are partnering to shape the EJNYC Plan.

Join our first Harlem community charrette on Sat, Dec 6 at 9 AM at the Manhattanville Community Center and help guide NYC’s environmental justice solutions.

RSVP: community.weact.org/we_act_ejnyc...

Briana Carbajal and NY Sen. Nathalia Fernandez urge @governor.ny.gov to sign the bill banning PFAS and other toxic chemicals from menstrual products. Everyone deserves safe period care — not chemicals tied to cancer, infertility, and hormone disruption

Read more: www.lohud.com/story/opinio...

Join us for our November Membership Meeting! We’re celebrating this year’s wins and sharing what’s ahead — including the launch of our 2026 Policy Agenda.

📅 Sat, Nov 15 | ⏰ 10 AM–1 PM

📍 Most Worshipful Prince Hall, 454 W 155th St

🔗 RSVP: community.weact.org/november_mem...

Two major wins from the UN’s COP6 Minamata Convention!

✅ Mercury dental fillings to be phased out by 2034

✅ Stronger global ban on toxic mercury cosmetics

Big steps for public health, environmental justice, and a toxics-free future.

A new report from Physicians for Social Responsibility and other national health orgs — Fueling Sickness — exposes the hidden health costs of fossil fuel pollution across our lifetimes.

📖 Read the full report today : psr.org/issues/envir...

The EJNYC Plan is taking shape — and your voice matters! 💬

Join a free public panel in your borough to help shape NYC’s environmental justice future.

🗓 Bronx 11/13 | Manhattan 11/17 | Brooklyn 11/19 | Queens 11/20 | Staten Island 12/2

🔗 RSVP: bit.ly/ejnycevent

WE ACT’s Peggy Shepard joins the Policy and Activism: Reimagining Power for Climate Justice panel at Columbia University’s Uplift Summit 2025 on Nov. 15. Don’t miss this powerful discussion on how women are shaping climate policy and climate justice.

🔗 RSVP: www.eventbrite.com/e/uplift-sum...

Meet the leaders combatting heat, pollution and inequity in urban areas Black-led organizations like WE ACT and Green Scheme are fighting environmental racism and advocating for cleaner air and healthier neighborhoods.

From redlining to modern pollution, Black and Brown communities have faced decades of environmental injustice. WE ACT is turning the tide with wins—from solar installations to all-electric building laws and state-level EJ protections.

Read more: afro.com/environmenta...

Nearly 30 EJ & Indigenous leaders visited Capitol Hill during the government shutdown advocating for the #EJForAll Act & accountability on harmful rollbacks. Environmental justice benefits all! 💚

Thanks to @earthjustice.org for supporting #EJLF!

Learn more: bit.ly/2025ejlfadvocacy

Join us for QIC’s first Networking Night!

📅 Nov 14 | 🕕 6–8PM
📍 246 Malcolm X Blvd, NYC

WE ACT staff will highlight our Beauty Inside Out campaign — sharing wins, resources, and ways to get involved.

The event is free, with an option to donate in support of our work.

Lawmakers and advocates from the JustGreen Partnership gathered in Harlem last week urging Governor Hochul to sign the bill banning PFAS and other toxic chemicals from menstrual products.

Join us and take action today: secure.everyaction.com/kvjqXcmeRU2B...

Are you a Manhattan resident or small business owner interested in clean energy upgrades or green jobs?

Learn how the Manhattan Clean Energy Hub, hosted by WE ACT, can connect you to clean energy retrofits, workforce training & sustainability support.

Get started: manhattancleanenergyhub.org/form/

How can New York City adapt to and mitigate extreme heat—especially in frontline communities?

Join us for “Riding Out the (Heat) Wave: Adapting to and Mitigating Extreme Heat in NYC,” a panel discussion centered on the Environmental Justice NYC Plan.

Sign up today: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...

Join the call relay this Thursday, Nov. 6 from 4–5 PM to urge @governor.ny.gov to sign the bill banning PFAS & toxics in menstrual products.

Take 5 minutes to protect menstruators’ health.

👉 Register: bit.ly/CallNYGov

Peggy Shepard and Leslie G. Fields just arrived in Rio for the C40 World Mayors Summit, joining global leaders ahead of COP30 to advance climate action and justice!

#C40Summit
#COP30
#ClimateJustice

Air pollution with congestion relief? 📉📉📉

@weact4ej.bsky.social's Peggy Shepard knows New Yorkers can breathe easier.

Thank you so much for joining us!

We’ll have the recording up on YouTube shortly to share with your network 💚