A Green New Deal for Durham

Town Hall

You're invited to help envision a Green New Deal for Durham! Join coalition partners on Thursday, May 13th from 7:00pm - 8:30pm to learn more about our movement to build a just, equitable, and ecologically vibrant community where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.

Register via Zoom

Black Lives Matter

We mourn George Floyd and other victims of racial injustice and police violence. We stand in solidarity with the people of color in Durham and around the world who are disproportionately affected by COVID-19 and the climate crisis.

The environmental justice movement we seek to build recognizes the inherent interconnectedness of social justice and environmental sustainability and advocates alongside those most directly affected by injustice.

Resources and more information:

Leah Thomas calls for intersectional environmentalism and a pledge for intersectional environmentalists.
The NRDC details the beginnings of the environmental justice movement in North Carolina.
Racism derails our efforts to save the planet: people of color are significantly more concerned about — and impacted by — climate change.
"It’s about building a world of solutions, with investments in community care and repair such as green jobs and infrastructure, human health-centered resources, and recovery for those most impacted by the climate crisis."
The NC Community Bail Fund of Durham fights to end cash bail and provides assistance to those who cannot afford it.

Policies

Climate change is a global crisis, but it will have local effects, especially on our most vulnerable residents. Durham can lead the way in responding to the climate crisis and develop equitable solutions through the policy areas described here.

Renewable Energy

Developing community solar power, including solar panels on Durham public schools and loans to help residents install solar on their own homes.
Making energy efficiency retrofits for public housing and public buildings.

Transportation

Investing more in public transit, including: more frequent and reliable buses, regional commuter rail and bus rapid transit.
Prioritizing walking, biking and rolling, rather than more parking decks and wider highways.

Housing

Funding affordable, safe housing, accessible to all.
Building homes of all kinds, with a focus on transit-oriented development and less sprawl.

Green Space

Planting more trees: expanding the canopy throughout Durham's underserved areas.
Restoring wetlands to provide resilience against flooding and filtering pollution out of our drinking water.

Reducing Waste

Supporting composting services for the City and County.
Building a Circular Economy where products are re-used and up-cycled.

Employment & Public Health

Training local residents for green construction jobs and apprenticeships.
Establishing a network of trails and green spaces for more outdoor exercise and recreation.

These policy ideas can be a starting point, but each of these areas involves complex and important topics all its own. We have begun to collect proposals, priorities, and ongoing work in each area.

Who we are

We are a coalition of neighbors, community advocates, and nonprofit organizations, coming together to reimagine a greener and more sustainable Durham.

Activist leaders are educating and engaging folks across Durham to take action, with a focus on building relationships with people from the communities who are impacted first and worst by environmental and climate injustice.

In addition to building alignment around a longer-term vision, we are working in solidarity with partners to meet the immediate needs of our neighbors and ensure everyone has housing, food, healthcare, education, transportation and economic opportunity.

We are reaching out to organizations and individuals around Durham — using email, phone calls, video chats and coffee. If your community organization would like to contribute to planning and realization of this project, please reach out. We meet regularly and are always looking to connect with local organizations.

Coalition partners

Partner organizations include:

Supporters

A broad and ambitious policy will only be achieved with the input and support of a broad range of individuals, organizations and local governments. This is not intended as a single, final statement from a particular perspective, but a portfolio that represents the goals of Durham as a whole.

Candidates, Officials & Community Leaders

Alexandra Valladares

School Board

Steve Schewel

Mayor

Natalie Murdock

NC Senate

Matt Kopac

Environmental Affairs Board

Wendy Jacobs

Vice-Chair, Board of County Commissioners

Pierce Freelon

City Council

Heidi Carter

Board of County Commissioners

LeVon Barnes

DPS Teacher

Nate Baker

Planning Commission

Input, recommendations, additional information and statements of support are welcome from elected officials, candidates for office and engaged residents of Durham. Local organizations will bring the community together to discuss and realize these plans. If you'd like to add your name here or find out more, feel welcome to join us!

More information

Read more about the Green New Deal and local versions of the Green New Deal.

Durham can lead the way in environmental sustainability and justice in the Southeast and we can also learn from the work and the inspiration of others.

Mayor Schewel called for a "Green New Durham" in his State of the City address, including priorities for solar power, composting and improved local bus service.
Nate Baker has proposed a set of solutions for a Green New Deal for Durham, including: transit-oriented land use reform that ends sprawl, funding for green school upgrades, and expanding neighborhood planning and worker-owned businesses.
Los Angeles's Green New Deal set targets for zero carbon electricity, zero carbon transportation, zero carbon buildings, zero waste and zero wasted water.
Nashville has passed a package of legislation, called a local Green New Deal, for converting government operations to renewable energy, switching to a zero-emission fleet of vehicles and greener building standards.
Portland, Oregon has instituted a tax-funded Portland Clean Energy Community Benefits Fund to support renewable energy, energy efficiency, job training and sustainable agriculture.
New York City will reduce pollution and utility bills with increasingly strict energy efficiency standards for its buildings.
Blue cities should enact local green new deals: "localities can and must do their part."

At the Federal level, the Green New Deal consists of a high-level resolution, followed by more specific plans in particular areas.

A resolution Recognizing the duty of the Federal Government to create a Green New Deal sets out the needs to address the climate crisis and the areas to do so.
Analysis showing a federal Green New Deal to be achievable, environmentally just, popular among voters and advantageous for the economy.
A Green New Deal for Public Housing would provide $180 billion of federal money to retrofit and modernize public housing around the county, including our own McDougald Terrace and other Durham Housing Authority communities: providing healthier housing and saving money on wasted water and energy.

Durham's City and County governments have existing programs and goals for environmental sustainability.

In 2007, the City of Durham and Durham County published the first local plan in North Carolina to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. A 2018 report showed that the City, County and community are not currently on track to meet those goals.
In 2018, the City of Durham published a Roadmap to Sustainability and continues to track progress on a Sustainability Dashboard.
In November 2018, the Durham County Board of County Commissioners resolved to migrate County operations to 100% renewable energy by 2050 and 80% by 2030.
In April 2019, the Durham City Council resolved to migrate City operations to 100% renewable energy by 2050 and 80% by 2030.

Some local officials and candidates for local office have signed pledges or answered questionnaires about climate change and policy responses.

Bike Durham asked candidates for Durham Board of County Commissioners about their experience and policies for transportation, regarding safety, access to jobs and the impact on climate change.
Some officials on the County Commission and City Council have signed the Sunrise Movement's Green New Deal pledge to champion the federal Green New Deal proposal.

Durham is already feeling the impacts of climate change and those effects will worsen, especially for our most vulnerable residents.

The 2018 National Climate Assessment provides a chapter of impacts specific to the Southeastern US, including the risks to infrastructure and public health that will be faced by cities in the Southeast like Durham.
Studies indicate an increase in violence in cities when the temperature is very high.

Take action

Sign up

Sign here with your name and email address to indicate your support for a Green New Deal for Durham. You're also welcome to subscribe to keep up with developments on a Green New Deal for Durham without signing on.

Survey

Please take a few minutes to tell us your priorities and vision for a sustainable future Durham.

What is your vision for a Green New Durham?
¿Cuál es su visión para un Nuevo Durham Verde?

Thank you for filling out this survey and passing it on to your networks. We are excited to be putting together the results, analysis and next steps from what we’ve heard from you.

Town Hall

You're invited to help envision a Green New Deal for Durham! Join coalition partners on Thursday, May 13th from 7:00pm - 8:30pm to learn more about our movement to build a just, equitable, and ecologically vibrant community where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.

Register via Zoom