CARB Announces New Executive to Lead Environmental Justice, Community Air Protection Program

CARB Executive Officer Richard W. Corey recently announced the appointment of Chanell Fletcher as the Deputy Executive Officer of Environmental Justice. Fletcher will oversee CARB’s Environmental Justice and Community Air Protection Program and be responsible for developing CARB-wide environmental justice policies. She will play a key role in CARB’s programs designed to address disproportionate impacts from air pollution and climate change and associated chronic health conditions affecting Black, Latinx and other communities of color across the state.  

“Chanell brings a wealth of community-focused experience and creative problem-solving skills to strengthen CARB’s efforts to improve public health for all Californians,” said Corey. “Her fierce commitment to finding just solutions will help to better integrate environmental and racial justice principles into every element of CARB’s operation, including the design and implementation of key programs aimed at improving the quality of life in communities hardest hit by pollution.”

For the past three years, Fletcher served as Executive Director of ClimatePlan, a nonprofit organization focused on advancing policies and programs to address the relationship between land use policy and climate change to realize more sustainable and equitable development throughout California. Prior to that, Fletcher was Senior Policy Manager for the Safe Routes to Schools National Partnership. She has worked with environmental justice organizations including the Leadership Counsel for Justice and Accountability, as well as racial equity organizations including PolicyLink and Public Advocates to shape legislation and advocate for competitive grant programs that increase access and opportunity for low-income communities and communities of color.

“Now, more than ever, it’s imperative that we move to a model where we’re actively building relationships and trust with partners in the environmental and racial justice movement,” said Fletcher. “For too long, we’ve approached this work from the top down. In this position, I am excited to lead CARB’s work on environmental and racial justice so we can partner more effectively and closely with residents and communities in the most impacted communities to create a more just and sustainable future.” 

As part of CARB’s senior executive team, Fletcher will serve as the primary internal and external contact for CARB on environmental justice, climate equity and community air protection efforts.  As Deputy Executive Officer of Environmental Justice, she will work closely with several of CARB’s internal programs and will contribute to CARB’s ongoing racial equity efforts. Fletcher will also develop a training program to provide staff with the understanding and skills to more effectively partner with communities.

As the executive office lead on AB 617, Fletcher will also guide the implementation of the program by building on the successes and lessons learned since the program’s inauguration three years ago. Given her experience and expertise, she brings an important voice to help inform strategies that better align California’s air quality, climate, sustainable transportation and mobility, and housing goals. 

Fletcher will represent CARB before the Board, the Legislature, in public meetings and workshops, and in in-person meetings.  

Fletcher earned her Bachelor’s degree in History from U.C. Santa Cruz and her Master in Public Administration from San Francisco State. She began her career in the Office of the U.S. Secretary of Transportation, analyzing the federal transportation bill, MAP-21, connecting it to states’ performance and funding needs. Fletcher will formally assume her new position on February 1, 2021.