Hispanic Heritage Month, which runs from September 15 to October 15, is an opportunity to highlight not only the rich history and culture of Hispanic and Latino people, but also their unique experiences navigating the climate crisis. At Moms Clean Air Force and our Latino engagement program, EcoMadres, we know these communities are disproportionately impacted by climate change and extreme weather events like heavy rainfall, flooding, hurricanes, droughts, and heat waves.
Through EcoMadres, we aim to empower Latino families with culturally relevant information on the health effects of air pollution and climate change every month of the year. In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, we’ve curated a special collection of the resources specifically for our climate-conscious Latina mamas. Each of the following resources offers insights into how the climate crisis affects these communities and what can be done to address it.
1. Air Pollution, Extreme Heat, and Latina Maternal Health
While air pollution and extreme heat pose risks to all pregnant people, Latino communities face unequal impacts due to closer proximity to pollution sources and greater exposure to extreme heat in both living and working environments. Hispanic mothers are more likely than their white counterparts to reside in areas with higher air pollution levels, suffer greater harm from wildfire smoke, and experience an elevated risk of stillbirth due to ozone exposure. Additionally, they face increased risks from extreme heat, including pregnancy loss, preterm birth, and low birth weight.
Read the full fact sheet in English or Spanish.
2. Extreme Heat and Latino Communities
Hispanic and Latino individuals hold the lion’s share of outdoor jobs in the U.S., such as farming, construction, first response, and utility work, making them especially vulnerable to the effects of extreme heat. Working outdoors in extreme heat can be dangerous. Prolonged exposure to high temperatures can lead to severe heat-related illnesses like heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Without immediate medical attention, heat stroke can result in permanent disability or even death. Additionally, extreme heat is linked to a rise in hospital admissions for respiratory and cardiovascular issues.
Read the full fact sheet in English or Spanish.
3. Reasons to Roll With Electric School Buses
Electric school buses have the potential to protect millions of Latino children from harmful exposure to diesel exhaust—a known human carcinogen that can trigger asthma attacks and hinder learning. Pollution inside diesel buses can be even worse than outside, posing a significant risk for students with long commutes, as well as for bus drivers. In contrast, electric buses run on battery power and produce zero tailpipe emissions, improving air quality both inside the bus and in the surrounding communities.
Read the full fact sheet in English or Spanish.
4. “Chemical Recycling” 101
In recent years, plastics industry lobbyists have been pushing an outdated incineration method as a solution to the plastic pollution crisis, rebranding it as “chemical recycling” or “advanced recycling.” However, these terms are misleading—there’s nothing advanced about the process, and it doesn’t involve actual recycling. Instead, plastic waste is incinerated, generating harmful air pollution, contaminated oil, and toxic ash. Many of these “chemical recycling” incinerators are located in Latino communities, a clear example of environmental racism.
Read the full fact sheet in English or Spanish.
5. Indoor Air Quality in Schools
EPA estimates that up to half of U.S. schools have indoor environmental quality issues. Children in historically marginalized communities of color are disproportionately exposed to environmental hazards, such as poor air quality at school. Systemic racism has led to policies that force Brown, Black, and Indigenous families to send their children to schools more vulnerable to toxic air pollution. These schools are often older, in disrepair, and lack the resources to address or prevent poor indoor air quality. Additionally, they are more likely to be located near industrial facilities, compounding the risks for students.