Gov. Evers celebrates Earth Day with creation of new Office of Environmental Justice

WISCONSIN (CBS 58) -- On this Earth Day, Governor Tony Evers announced the creation of a new office focused on the environment.

During an event Friday morning, April 22, at the Indian Community School in Franklin, the governor signed an executive order creating the Office of Environmental Justice at the Department of Administration. 

It will work in collaboration with the Office of Sustainability.

“Every Wisconsinite should have access to clean, safe drinking water, our state’s natural resources, and great places to live, learn, and work,” said Gov. Evers. “Too many Wisconsinites have felt the effects of climate change firsthand—rural communities have had roads or bridges washed out, farmers have lost crops or livestock due to extreme weather, small business owners who’ve seen their businesses destroyed by floods, or the disparate health impacts we see due to polluted air and water. The Office of Environmental Justice will play a critical role by helping promote policies and strategies to enhance climate resilience, ensuring our communities and families can prepare for and recover from the effects of climate change, and getting resources and support to folks who need our help the most.”

Evers says the task force on climate change did research on the problems and provided 55 different ways to address them, many of which were in his 2022-23 budget proposal.