Today is the 50^th anniversary of Earth Day, and while the entire planet is living under lockdown due to COVID-19, the danger of climate change is still prevalent.

Despite the requests of concerned citizens to make climate change a priority issue at the Board of County Supervisors meeting, time will tell if it becomes a budgeted priority. The Clean Economy Act and the rollbacks of environmental protections at the federal level create a threat that has yet to be address, and that is climate gentrification.

As sea levels rise, people must move inland to prevent damage to their homes. What this does is create the need to build more homes at higher elevations. Newer homes are built, the prices go up, and minorities are forced to leave the area due to the costs. This is already happening in major coastal cities like Miami.

Yesterday we visited a webinar hosted by Tiziana Bottino of Mother’s Out Front and founder of the Greater Prince William Climate Action Network. Dr. John Cook of the George Mason University Center for Climate Change Communication spoke with the participants. He discussed how misinformation is consistently utilized to distort the facts of climate change.

When asked how underserved communities of color should best speak out against having polluted facilities in their neighborhoods, Cook responded, “Telling stories are important. Climate change is not just a science issue, it’s a moral issue.”

“Generation Xer’s and baby boomers created this situation, and now the generations of today have to be the ones to deal with it. We’re glad that they are speaking out.”

Today students are hosting a Virtual Student Strike to bring awareness to the situation. Their purpose is to see netzero schools become a reality all over the area.

We think that climate gentrification is not possible in Prince William County, then one only needs to take a quick drive up Route 1 North to Belmont Bay, or the Occoquan River. Potentially rising levels could create a dangerous situation in Woodbridge, and further push black and Hispanic families further away from their homes. Moving families even closer to the inland also creates the potential for increased traffic and rising property costs.

Below are a few links that provide activities for getting involved in your local area of the county during this Earth Day celebration. Although we are all in our homes for the time being, there are many ways to get involved.

https://www.theverge.com/2020/4/21/21229817/earth-day-2020-ecology-celebration-online.

http://www.earthdayinitiative.org/virtual-kick-off

We may be socially distant, but that doesn’t mean we should collectively disengage. Our communities, our planet, and future generations are counting on it.