On May 5th, 140 local organizations sent a message all all NYC elected officials: as plans are made to rebuild from the devastation caused by Covid-19, the threats posed by climate change must be taken into account. The Bold Next Steps framework called for us to commit to rebuilding a city that was safer, healthier, and just.

But even more than that, we knew that we needed to put action behind our words. This isn’t the first march calling for climate justice and racial justice, and we know (hope) it won’t be the last. By kicking off climate week with a march prioritizing Black, Brown, and Indigenous peoples, we are aiming to make clear the intersection between climate justice and racial justice. With an emphasis on racial justice, we seek to set a tone for the week. The NYC Youth are organizing a Strike for Environmental Racism on Sept. 25, and a number of other actions are being scheduled for this year's Climate Week.

Building movements for racial, economic, and climate justice in NYC requires using every tool we have available – voting, completing the census, holding elected officials accountable, and mobilizing mass actions. One thing is clear - we cannot achieve climate justice without racial justice.