Issues

Climate change affects everything and everyone, especially the most vulnerable communities. That is why, in 2019, the MEP Coalition adopted the climate crisis as an overarching critical challenge we must tackle collectively for the common good. MEP supports a comprehensive multi-sectoral approach to addressing climate change that protects our clean air and water, advances a just transition to a clean energy economy and ensures a healthy environment for all Minnesotans. MEP will work to make the goals laid out in the Minnesota Climate Action Framework a reality – to achieve a clean energy, resilient, and equitable future for our state and people.

Our public institutions were created to serve people and our environment – but increasingly, the public good takes a back seat. Too often, public institutions put profit over people in decision-making and treat industry as their primary clients, overlooking sound science, public health, and the clean water, air, and lands that sustain life. MEP will call on state, county and local governments to address regulatory neglect and exercise transparency (including creating, retaining and providing timely access to public records), accountability, and to meaningfully engage with communities about policies and projects that affect the environment and their well-being.

Minnesota’s communities of color and low-income communities are especially vulnerable to pollution and environmental catastrophes and are often excluded from the corridors of power where environmental and economic decisions are made. A just response to climate change and pollution requires listening to and learning from the communities who directly experience the effects of pollution and climate disruption where they live, work and play. MEP will actively partner with environmental justice leaders, communities, organizations and Indigenous Tribes to ensure that environmental and racial justice is centered in policy solutions. This includes protecting the right to clean air and safe and affordable drinking water.