Issues the Orange County Democratic Environmental Caucus Advocates For:
The Orange County Environmental Democratic Caucus understands the frontline issues affecting residents that are intersectional throughout all facets of the Climate Crisis. This is why our team is dedicated to monitoring, advancing and educating the residents of Orange County about climate policy.
Protecting Democracy and Voting Access
Environmental Justice
Conservation & healthy Ecosystems
Renewable Energy Access & Equity
Immigration Reform & Climate Migration
Smart Growth & Transportation
Agriculture & Farmworkers Rights
Biodiversity & Habitat Restoration
Why These Issues Matter To Orange County:
Protecting Democracy and Voting Access
In 2023, Floridians’ rights to democracy were infringed by the passage of the Elections Omnibus bill. This bill creates obstacles placed in the way of everyday working-class families having the ability to automatically receive their vote-by-mail ballot, creates barriers for voter registration organizations and makes it harder for first-time voters to participate in the upcoming election.
Environmental Justice
Every human being on this earth can thrive with plenty of resources for survival if we had a mindset of equality and equity interlinked in our international affairs. There is no reason why anyone should go without food, water, clean air, or access to many of Earth’s resources. Hunger, poverty, toxic contaminants and overwhelming waste are human-made constructs that exists nowhere else in nature. On many occasions, environmental destruction or harmful pollution exposure occurs in BIPOC frontline communities that are moderate to low income, already fighting harder than many born into privilege just to survive. This makes it challenging for individuals to organize and fight back against corporations that could be inflicting this harm in communities in need. This is why the government plays an essential role in regulating corporate entities who must pay their fair share to clean up their mess on the hunt for an increased profit margin.
Conservation and Healthy Ecosystems
Here in Florida, we must be proactive in conserving our natural lands knowing there is a spike in development throughout the state that cannot be sustained by our current resources. We need to proactively purchase and conserve forests and wetlands, especially those that play a pivotal role in cleaning or filtering the water that percolates down into our aquifer.
Biodiversity and Habitat Restoration
Happy and healthy ecosystems can be monitored by their biodiverse array of species. Without investing in restoring our natural lands, there can be sharp and drastic declines in species ability to survive in the case of an invasive species, deforestation, pollutants or human interference. Writing policies to address the biodiversity crisis is essential to protecting the biomes of Florida, where many endemic species found only in this State call home.
Renewable Energy Access and Equity
The potential of renewable energy in Florida is astronomical. There is no reason why the Sunshine State is not the solar capital of the world. The ability to capture the power of our oceans waves, geothermal, wind and algae technology are underinvested in and could be a gateway to making Florida the fastest growing clean energy peninsulas in the world. In the transition to clean energy, we must use monitoring systems to find the most energy burdened, low income communities first and transform the grid in an equitable transition, starting with those who are seeing the frontlines of the crisis.
Immigration Reform and Climate Migration
The Orange County Democratic Environmental Caucus advocates for comprehensive immigration reform and robust policies to address climate migration. As climate change intensifies, communities across the country and beyond are increasingly forced to relocate due to environmental devastation. Orange County is experiencing rapid growth as it becomes a refuge for those fleeing climate impacts. To manage this influx effectively and sustainably, we call for the implementation of a local resiliency plan that prioritizes infrastructure improvements, affordable housing, and social services to support incoming populations. By addressing climate migration proactively, we can ensure that Orange County remains a vibrant, inclusive, and resilient community prepared to face the challenges of our changing world.
Smart Growth & Transportation
Land use planning and the diversification of our transportation system are inextricably interlinked and essential for combating the Climate Crisis. We must do everything we can to stop the combustion of fossil fuels, sequester carbon through our green infrastructure and transition to renewable energy resources within our grid and transportation systems. This includes enhancing walkability and connectivity, not sprawling past the point of our natural lands’ ability to sustain growing populations.
Agriculture and Farmworkers Rights
The Agriculture industry has a long history of human rights abuses and is known to use toxic chemicals in order to enhance production, regardless of the long term impacts of their workers or nearby ecosystems. This is why our food system must transition to cleaner more regenerative practices that allow farmworkers to have rights in the workplace.
Orange County Democratic Environmental Caucus 