Climate Change and the Threat to
Racial Equity How natural disasters and global warming expose environmental injustices By Vitisia Paynich
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n February 2021, fierce winter snowstorms blasted the state of Texas with extreme cold temperatures that froze waterpipes and besieged the state’s energy grid, causing blackouts across communities large and small. Millions of Texans grappled with a lack of electricity, heat, food and water while awaiting state and federal emergency response. Meanwhile, park and recreation professionals sprang into action to help their communities. City of Dallas Parks and Recreation, for example, opened its parking lots to chartered buses and mobile homes, which served as “Mobile Warming Centers” for residents to warm up, grab a meal and charge their devices (tinyurl.com/2p87kkkm). While “The Great Texas Freeze” of last year inspired countless stories of local organizations and community members helping neighbors in need, it also reiterated a hard truth about climate change and the collateral damage natural disasters inflict — racial inequity. Parks & Recreation magazine takes a closer look at climate change disparities related to race. It’s important to note that the professionals interviewed for this article are not climate scientists; however, their work in conservation and parks and recreation is quite relevant to this topic. Their
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