Climate change's impact on minorities topic of discussion tonight in N. Mpls.

Environmental groups and political leaders will participate in a forum in north Minneapolis this evening on the disproportionate affect that climate change can have on communities of color.

The event comes on the heels of the National Climate Assessment, which warns that some communities are more vulnerable than others to the effects of climate change, among them extreme weather events like major storms and heat waves.

"Climate change is not only much worse, but it's affecting vulnerable communities more severely than we initially thought," said Nikki Silvestri, executive director of the national group Green for All, which helped organize the event.

Several environmental justice leaders and U.S. Rep. Keith Ellison are scheduled to speak at the event at Kwanzaa Community Church in north Minneapolis.

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Disasters such as Hurricanes Katrina and Sandy proved that communities of color can suffer more losses, Silvestri said.

"We're talking about making sure that those who are hit first by these cases of extreme weather and those who are hit worst because they didn't have a lot of infrastructure or economic security to begin with, don't get hit the hardest," Silvestri said.

Silvestri said vulnerable communities already are aware of the consequences of extreme weather, but she said her group aims to raise awareness about clean energy technology and other ways to reduce carbon emissions.

"This is a phenomenon that we can actually do something about," she said.

If you go

Climate Justice Now: Community Forum
6 p.m. today
Kwanzaa Community Church (map)
3700 Bryant Ave. N., Minneapolis