Institute of Politics: Is the Climate Crisis an Accomplice to the Murders of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery & Breonna Taylor?

The recorded and public murder of George Floyd at the hands of police caused global outrage at the continued violence against unarmed black people. Outrage turned into a movement – throughout 2020, the demands for justice and equality were felt in every sector of our country. As thought leaders, activists and policy makers seek solutions, we must also address varying factors of causation, including climate change. According to one peer-reviewed study in the Journal of Environmental and Economic Management, “Between 2010 and 2099, climate change will cause an additional 22,000 murders, 180,000 cases of rape, 1.2 million aggravated assaults, 2.3 million simple assaults, 260,000 robberies, 1.3 million burglaries, 2.2 million cases of larceny, and 580,000 cases of vehicle theft in the United States.” This seminar will examine the data, experience and policy decisions that connect the dots between a warming planet and violence, particularly in communities of color.