The Early Years Climate Action Task Force is exploring the impact of climate change on our youngest children and their families. In April 2023, Joe Waters and Leah Austin met in Atlanta to talk about lessons from the Task Force's listening sessions, the multiplied impact of climate change on Black children, and how we can think about partnering with local government to improve outcomes for kids and their communities.

www.capita.org | www.thisisplaneted.org

Joe Waters is the co-founder and CEO of Capita. An independent, nonpartisan think tank with a global focus, Capita works to build a future in which children and families can realize their full potential in a just, peaceful, prosperous society on a healthier, cleaner, and safer planet.

Dr. Leah Austin is an accomplished, multi-faceted and visionary leader who has been working on behalf of Black children and their families for over two decades. Leah began her career as a public school teacher in southeast DC teaching kindergarten and first grade. More than “just” a teacher, she found herself working with parents to ensure their children received the resources they were due while butting up against a system that wanted to prematurely label them. Forever the educator and advocate she went on to work for several nonprofit and philanthropic organizations over her career.