Priscilla De La Cruz |
Director of sustainability, Providence
1. What are your priorities for the city as its new director of sustainability? Over the years, I’ve been involved in environmental initiatives in Providence, most recently as a member of the Providence Sustainability Commission. These experiences have helped shape my goals, from investing in stormwater management solutions to addressing pollution issues in the Port of Providence and surrounding areas. Over the next few years, I will be focused on implementing [the] city’s landmark Climate Justice Plan and ensuring community members are engaged and heard throughout the process.
2. What are the most imminent risks Providence faces due to climate change and what steps can the city take to mitigate these issues? We’ve canceled school because of unseasonable extreme heat, and in the same week we’ve canceled major events … [such as] PVDFest because our infrastructure was not built to withstand flash flooding. In the immediate future, this administration is incorporating green infrastructure as often as possible, with a specific focus on improving stormwater management.
3. The city outlines one of the department’s goals as fostering a “sustainable, zero-waste economy, with a focus on support for local businesses.” How will you work with the local business community in this role? My department is committed to moving climate action policies forward because they are good for our public health and for business. We’re developing more education and training opportunities to help businesses and workers learn about clean energy because shifting away from fossil-fueled heating and cooling can generate savings for businesses that they can reinvest.
4. How do climate justice needs impact Providence and its residents? In heat waves, our front-line communities, [which] tend to be Indigenous and low-income communities of color, have limited canopy cover or greenspaces incorporated into neighborhoods. In flood-prone areas, there is little natural stormwater infrastructure … [such as] trees and grass to combat the flash flooding that’s been happening.
5. What prompted your interest in sustainability work? I had a strong desire to better the lives of my family members and my community. Growing up in Providence, we experienced firsthand the challenges of energy and economic uncertainties, heightened by poor air quality and severe asthma. It was my lived experience that led me to work in sustainability.
