Environmental issues and climate change are important to people of color. Minority voters understand that a negative change in the environment threatens their way of life. And they believe that finding solutions to those threats would benefit them economically, creating new industries and generating well-paying jobs.

A new report published by Green For All showed that a majority of minority voters (70 percent) stated that they were more likely to support candidates willing to increase resources to challenge environmental issues over candidates who reject such efforts. The same percentage indicated that they were interested in paying closer attention to new information on the subject of climate change.

Green For All commissioned the poll of minority voters in July 2014. Brilliant Corners surveyed 400 African-American and 400 Latino voters from key swing states (Florida, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Ohio, Texas and Virginia) and 100 Asian voters from Los Angeles and the Bay Area.

Minority voters (68 percent) believed that climate change is an issue that should be addressed now and shouldn't be put off until later. Many believe there aren't enough funds afforded to treating climate change (62 percent) and global warming (55 percent).

Poor environmental conditions affect health, causing asthma, disease and developmental issues, disproportionately harming low-income communities and people of color. Water pollution, toxic waste, water shortages, carbon pollution and natural gas are associated with conditions afflicting these groups.

Beyond threats to the community and an understanding that caring for the community will lead to green jobs, minority voters believe that there is a moral responsibility involved. Improving the environment speaks to their values, their desire to reduce the likeliness of catastrophic weather events and their desire to leave future generations with a habitable planet. Minority voters believe that the best way to do that is by supporting new carbon emission standards, expecting that it will spur innovations and research that will keep prices down, as well as create new industry jobs and make for safer living conditions.

More than a third cited increases in natural disasters (38 percent) as a reason behind a newfound interest in environmental issues, and 39 percent indicated that their interest in climate change began within the last few years.

An investment in climate mitigation is expected to yield positive results, providing training opportunities for those transitioning out of shrinking industries, creating nearly 2 million jobs, leading to the repair of water infrastructure and helping the United States to regain lead the world in technology and innovation.

Green For All is an organization and movement that sprouted from a need to build a new economy that functions to address global warming while tackling inequality and poverty. Founded in 2007 by environmental advocate and civil rights activist Van Jones, Green For All motivates people of color and low-income Americans to see the benefits of a sustainable economy and makes visible the possibilities that lie ahead when time is invested in generating local economic growth, creating quality jobs, improving homes and reducing carbon emissions.

With the mission, "Building a green economy strong enough to lift people out of poverty," the organization promises to communicate the importance of climate change as it relates to low-income individuals and communities of color.

For more information, check out Green For All on Facebook and Twitter, or follow Van Jones on Twitter.

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