This week, we review an episode of the newly-launched Climate Justice, Y’all! podcast. Climate Justice, Y’all!, hosted by Abigail Franks and Mare’shah Malcom, is an interview-style podcast that aims to highlight environmental justice issues in the Southern United States, a region deeply affected by climate change, yet often left out of climate discussions. The podcast uses “good ‘ol fashion storytelling” to highlight “Southern leaders from all walks of life putting in their blood, sweat, and tears to transform the region.”
In this episode, titled “Talking Energy Justice,” the hosts interview two Southern-based experts on energy justice issues facing the region. The first is Chandra Farley, who serves as Just Energy Director at the Partnership for Southern Equity, an Atlanta-based non-profit dedicated to racial equity. Farley was also recently named to the Grist50 list for her work in energy justice advocacy. Her work focuses on four areas — energy and climate, equitable development, economic inclusion, and health equity — and tries to build a “people-centered, relationship-centered” movement around them. Farley also helped create the Just Energy Academy, a seven month-long program to educate future leaders about energy justice.
Daniel Tait, the other interviewee, serves as Chief Operating Officer at Energy Alabama, an organization that works to accelerate the clean energy transition in Alabama. Tait’s organization does work in three areas: education — teaching local residents and policymakers about sustainable energy; policy advocacy — helping push for clean energy legislation; and technical assistance — providing support for residents and nonprofits doing sustainable energy projects.
During the 30-minute-long interview, both guests draw on their experiences and work to discuss energy justice issues facing the South. Farley draws attention to the importance of energy in everyday life, as a resource akin to food and water — “we can’t do anything without it,” she says. Despite how vital energy is to life, though, she points out that many citizens, often from low-income, working-class communities, struggle to pay their utility bills. Farley emphasizes that pricey utility bills are not a natural fact of life; energy prices are intentionally determined by utility companies, often monopolistic corporations motivated solely by profit.
Tait agrees, describing energy companies as “extractive” and “infuriating” corporations that prioritize profit while giving the “absolute bare minimum” back to communities. He adds that these companies often funnel their profits into efforts for anti-clean energy legislation that exacerbates climate impacts and endangers human health — thus indirectly forcing customers to support policies that work against them.
While extractive corporations and unequal energy burdens are, unfortunately, relatively ubiquitous, both Farley and Tait claim that the South has suffered in particular. Charley points to the South’s history of slavery as one of the first examples of unjust energy practices: “Talk about extreme extraction of energy, well who was the first energy?” The systemic inequities that have persisted from slavery, the Jim Crow era, and racist policies like redlining have contributed to chronic, generational poverty in the region. According to Farley, 84 percent of counties in the US that face persistent poverty (poverty lasting for three or more decades) are located in the South. These deep racial and economic divides make unequal energy burdens even more damaging, particularly in a region that faces many extreme weather events. Southern states face some of the highest energy burdens in the country, says Farley, but have comparatively few energy efficiency and clean energy programs.
Despite the energy justice challenges facing the region, both Farley and Tait are hopeful that change is on the way. Farley says “tried and true” strategies, like weatherization, energy efficiency, and solar energy, can be extremely effective, given there is enough political will behind the policies. They both also look to the growing environmental justice movement and the current political moment as evidence of imminent change — “we’re in a movement moment,” says Farley. Tait believes Southern residents are becoming fed up with corporate interests and beginning to gain an awareness of the climate injustices they face. “I’m tired of talking,” says Farley — instead, it’s time to invest real money and implement real solutions, to finally bring about a “regenerative, forward-thinking future,” as she puts it.
The Climate Justice, Y’all podcast is still in its first season, and so far has produced episodes on indigenous communities, labor, and democracy, as they relate to climate justice — all from a Southern perspective. To listen to more episodes, check out their website!
