HB4077 EJTF

Alan R.P. Journet Ph.D.
Cofacilitator,
Southern Oregon Climate Action Now
7113 Griffin Lane
Jacksonville OR 97530-9342
alan@socan.eco
541-301-4107
February 4^th 2022

Chair Marsh and Members of the House Committee on Environment and Natural Resources

I write as co-facilitator of Southern Oregon Climate Action Now on behalf of the over 1600 rural Southern Oregonians who are SOCAN. Our mission is to promote awareness and understanding of the science of global warming and its climate change consequences and motivate individual and collective action to address the resulting climate crisis.

Addressing environmental justice should be at the core of all individual and collective efforts to address environmental problems since if we cannot overcome those injustices, we will never achieve a fully just and sustainable world. The Environmental Justice Task Force was established in 2007 as a result of SB 420 to reinvigorate state progress toward environmental justice and to advise the Governor and state natural resource agencies on environmental justice concerns. Regrettably the EJTF lacks the resources necessary to undertake its charge adequately. Throughout its existence, the EJTF has enjoyed neither a budget nor staff.

Our state continues to experience an array of challenges from the climate crisis to the COVID pandemic that unquestionably place greater burden on environmental justice communities. In this context, it behooves the state to take additional steps to ensure that environmental justice issues are addressed fully and judiciously.

Although Southern Oregon Climate Action Now is primarily focused on the climate crisis, for the above reasons, we are also very committed to ensuring that environmental justice remains a central issue as we address the climate issue. For the reasons articulated above, Southern Oregon Climate Action Now supports HB4077 and urges its passage.

Respectfully submitted

Alan Journet Ph.D.
Cofacilitator
Southern Oregon Climate Action Now