“There is a lot of loss that is occurring, and there are huge systemic barriers in Los Angeles right now in terms of relief and recovery, especially for Latino and mixed status families,” says Sonja Diaz of Latina Futures 2050 Lab. She was setting the stage for a critical conversation hosted by EcoMadres, Moms’ Latina engagement program, exploring the impact of last month’s Los Angeles wildfires on underserved communities and strategies to strengthen their resilience for the next disaster.
Recent research conducted by the UCLA Latino Policy and Politics Institute and the UCLA Center for Neighborhood Knowledge highlights the health vulnerabilities, economic disruptions, and gaps in preparedness many communities face amid wildfires. It underscores the clear need to address these systemic disparities to protect the health, safety, and livelihoods of Latinos and other historically marginalized communities during climate-fueled crises.
Tell Congress: Hold the Line on Progress to Cut Air and Climate Pollution
Sonja was joined in conversation by Isaias Hernandez (Queer Brown Vegan), Antonieta Cadiz (Climate Power En Acción), and EcoMadres’ Karin Stein, who acted as moderator. Together, they connected the UCLA research findings to the disaster aftermath on the ground in LA. Here are some key takeaways from their discussion:
1. Intersectionality is crucial when responding to climate threats
Latinos represent 1 in 4 people who were directly impacted in last month’s Los Angeles County wildfires. More than 74,000 Latinos were displaced or at risk of displacement from the fires. These stats underscore intersecting vulnerabilities in Latino communities, including higher exposure to air pollution and risk of displacement.
Latino communities aren’t the only ones impacted by these environmental harms. Children, older adults, pregnant people, outdoor workers, and firefighters are also hit harder when wildfires burn.
As Isaias says: “55% of Latino Americans live in states that are already experiencing serious effects of climate change. In this case in California, it’s important to understand that many of these communities of color—like my own—are near toxic facilities, and chemicals released from these sites when burned can also cause serious health issues.”
2. Underserved communities are more likely to be exposed to toxic air pollution
The toxic air pollutants in wildfire smoke threaten the 7.4 million children living in fire-prone areas in the U.S. Children with asthma and other respiratory illnesses, and those with cardiovascular issues, are at increased risk for lung damage from wildfire smoke. Additionally, living through a wildfire can have mental health implications, making people more vulnerable to depression and post-traumatic stress disorder.
“The remnants of these wildfires will have disparate impacts on communities with substantially higher levels of pollution that lead to chronic disease. Our public policy needs to be able to respond and support families with relief and recovery, as well as accurate and culturally nuanced information in real time,” says Sonja.
3. Countering false information can help protect recovery efforts
We have seen widespread misinformation or outright lies around the LA disaster. This can have life or death consequences, impeding first responders, slowing emergency aid, and complicating decision-making for families in the fire’s path.
“With extreme weather events, there is a lot of speculation. As important as the message and fact-based information is the medium and the format in our digital world. We need to build relationships with trusted messengers to counter disinformation. I’m talking about experts and community leaders… We all need to collaborate,” says Antonieta.
4. Everyone has an important role to play in reducing climate pollution
The president has launched a series of dangerous and reckless rollbacks on clean air and climate protections, and people in our local, state, and federal governments deny the reality of increasingly intense extreme weather events, from hurricanes to wildfires. It has never been more important to come together to build systems that are fair and resilient.
“Everything we do to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions now can help reduce the impact of wildfires in the future. We must remain committed to fighting for a future where all families can be safe,” says Karin.
As we look ahead in recovery and rebuilding, we must urge our policymakers to craft and support disaster response strategies that address the compounded risks Latino communities face. Join Moms Clean Air Force and EcoMadres in advocating for strong clean air and climate policy at the local, state, and federal levels.
Tell Congress: Hold the Line on Progress to Cut Air and Climate Pollution