WASHINGTON, D.C. — The NAACP and Young, Gifted, and Green have launched a nationwide electoral dashboard designed to help voters evaluate political candidates’ positions on climate change, environmental justice and issues affecting community health.
The new platform, called ‘Climate on Your Ballot,’ provides a public resource for tracking candidates’ positions and records on environmental policies, including clean energy, pollution, neighborhood development and the growing presence of data centers.
The initiative aims to increase transparency and accountability among candidates seeking public office, particularly on environmental issues that disproportionately affect Black communities and other vulnerable populations.
“Voters deserve to know where candidates stand on the climate and environmental issues that affect their communities,” said Abre’ Conner, director of the NAACP’s Center for Environmental and Climate Justice. “The political landscape on climate is a civil rights concern as it directly impacts the health and safety of our communities.”
Conner said the dashboard will help voters better understand how elected officials’ decisions influence environmental conditions and long-term community well-being.
The platform offers a centralized record of candidates’ positions on climate justice, environmental health and community protection. It also highlights local concerns, including the environmental impact of data centers, and provides nonpartisan information to help residents make informed voting decisions.
Users can also request information directly from candidates about their positions on climate-related issues.
LaTricea D. Adams, founder/CEO/president of Young, Gifted, and Green, emphasized the connection between environmental policy and public health.
“Every vote on data centers, clean energy, and lead pipes is a vote about the health of mothers and children,” Adams said. “Climate on Your Ballot helps voters see where candidates stand so we can hold them accountable for the air our babies breathe and the water our families drink.”
The organizations say environmental justice must remain a priority as communities confront challenges ranging from climate change and industrial pollution to infrastructure development and access to clean drinking water.
The NAACP and Young, Gifted, and Green are encouraging residents to use the dashboard, contact candidates and demand clear public positions on environmental policies before casting their ballots.
For more information, visit <naacp.org/resources/climate-your-ballot>.
