Clean Energy’s Vital Role in Black Communities: Insights from the Detroit Ted Countdown Summit

By: Ebony JJ Curry SENIOR REPORTER

In the heart of the Motor City, last week’s 2023 Detroit TED Countdown Summit convened minds from all corners of the globe. It championed an extraordinary cause, one rooted in the imperatives of our time—navigating the path to net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. As we look back on the ideas shared and the commitments pledged, it becomes clear that achieving this target is inextricably linked to rectifying decades-old inequities that have disproportionately burdened Black communities.

In its own right, summoning global experts to the resilient city of Detroit to deliberate over the monumental, unavoidable shifts altering our existence presents a refreshing vantage point. But still, one might ask—why select Detroit as the backdrop for this essential dialogue?

“We’ll never pick such a perfect city for an event like this ever again,” rang true as TED’s Senior Director of Impact Logan McClure Davda expressed to the Michigan Chronicle. “Detroit’s past, present, and future are a powerful reminder of the global reinvention that we need to tackle the climate transition. There’s so much to learn from the incredible leaders doing exceptional work on the ground and then of course being the center of the American auto industry and seeing the reinvention that is happening and that still needs to happen – that was really at the heart of the decision, we knew that Detroit is where we needed to be.”

Historically, Black communities have borne the brunt of our nation’s carbon footprint. A 2017 study from the NAACP and Clean Air Task Force revealed that over a million African Americans live within half a mile of oil and natural gas facilities, experiencing 38% higher levels of nitrogen dioxide than their white counterparts. This environmental injustice doesn’t only tarnish our skies—it translates to tangible health disparities, with Black children suffering from asthma at nearly double the national rate.

Laprisha Daniels, the Executive Director of Detroit Working for Environmental Justice, was among the numerous Detroit locals who addressed the audience at the summit. Her objective was to foster unity and underscore the critical necessity of clean air access, especially in Black communities.

“We stand shoulder-to-shoulder with community members as they fight for a healthy environment where they can live, learn, play and pray. DWEJ helps to amplify the voice of the community as decisions are being made, about the natural and built environment, that impact their health and wellbeing,” Daniels said. “We are concerned with reducing environmental health disparities including asthma and other respiratory illnesses, lead exposure and cardiovascular disease.”

Detroit, a city with a Black population of over 78%, offers a microcosm of these nation- al challenges. It also illuminates the possibilities of our collective action toward a cleaner, more equitable future. In recent years, Detroit has emerged as a hub for clean energy, showcasing a powerful model for transitioning urban areas towards sustainability while prioritizing the health and prosperity of their inhabitants.

The Summit laid out the urgency and importance of clean air and energy within Black communities. “We’re not only striving for net-zero emissions; we’re striving for net-zero injustice,” affirmed James Feagin, an attendee encapsulating the summit’s principles.

“I think it’s a great recognition of two things. Number one, Detroit’s legacy of impact and industry, and how we are now leveraging that power to create a new future and we’re looking to lead just as we led in the past,” said James Feagin Managing Partner of Black Bottom Ventures. “So, with all the great things happening, such as forging change in the future of our auto industry and how cars are built. You also have a strong environmental legacy here at the neighborhood level and so there’s been an intentional effort to include Detroiters in the conversation.”

A compelling narrative emerged around the role of small businesses, often the lifeblood of Black communities, in this transition. Small businesses are perfectly poised to leverage local knowledge and community trust, innovating and implementing sustain-