Working with Environmental Justice Communities

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This training helps volunteers practice two larger approaches within environmental justice outreach: building personal relationships built on genuine interest and working towards broader community engagement through shared alliances.

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Finding out more about Environmental Justice

The idea of “Environmental Justice” recognizes that the benefits and burdens in the quality of our environment are unevenly distributed through our communities.   

Environmental Justice (EJ) and Climate Justice (CJ) groups can often fall under the same umbrella as other green groups, but they are unique organizations with their own history and focus. All of these groups represent a specific subsection of the American public, perhaps a region or a city, and they are very careful to never misrepresent those stakeholders. Environmental Justice is a topic that takes some background to really know, and we strongly recommend researching the history of your area or region before engaging with them.

The bottom line is that these groups work to ensure that the people most affected by climate, environmental, social and equity injustices have their voices heard, and are “at the table” in creating policies to ensure they protect their communities. This movement grew out of instances where lower income and minority communities were disproportionately affected by policies such as the placement of pollution generating plants and storage of toxic materials near their homes. These practices continue today and are a major priority to these groups.

Build relationships, don’t seek endorsements

If you are going to engage with a local EJ/CJ group, please do so respectfully and with the intention of creating a relationship, just as we do with members of Congress, and NOT with the intention of recruiting or getting endorsements.

If you and your group can’t commit to building that relationship and being genuinely interested and engaged with them on local issues, we recommended you do not approach them until you have spent more time educating yourself on Environmental Justice, its History and its Principles. If you have any questions, please visit the Climate and Environmental Justice Action Team and ask anything in the group's forums.

Engaging with these groups takes time, and a deep understanding of why they are fighting. These groups have been underrepresented, underpaid, underserviced and disregarded since the beginning of the U.S. and demand that future policies not only acknowledge this, but work to correct it. In engaging with them, the most important principle to remember is to listen. These groups sometimes look at Citizens’ Climate Lobby and other groups that deal with federal policies as not listening to the voices of those on the ground dealing with climate impacts now, and often feel used by bigger organizations.

CCL's Environmental Justice Statement

We recognize that the effects of pollution and environmental degradation fall most heavily on communities that are marginalized in our society, especially Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) communities. We acknowledge the legacy of racially biased policies in creating and perpetuating this imbalance. We know that the effects of climate change are already disproportionately hurting these under resourced communities and that it will only get worse if we don’t eliminate harmful emissions. Citizens' Climate believes in the dignity of every person and that all of us should have access to clean water, clean air and healthy food. We believe that these disparities must be addressed while we transition to a zero emissions economy.

We know that a Carbon Fee and Dividend approach will not solve all of the environmental justice problems we face. And yet, we do think it will make things better for those currently suffering. Reducing greenhouse gas emissions will also reduce pollutants that negatively impact human health.  In addition, by putting more money in the pockets of over 90% of low-income American households, it will help families economically through the transition. While it is not a cure-all for solving climate change or environmental injustice, we think this is a step in the right direction.

Resources and activities for chapters

The following links, readings and resources have been prepared by the CCL Climate and Environmental Justice Action Team’s Steering Team (special thanks to Marti Roach) to help chapters weave elements into their meetings and individual CCL members who want to learn about and make connections with folks in the Climate and Environmental Justice Community.  

Resources and activities for individuals
  • Click the "Watch" tab above to view a recording of the Working with Environmental Justice Communities.
  • CCL's Youtube site provides additional Climate & Environmental Justice videos, as well as the CCL Podcast: CC Radio Ep 16 Pursuing Climate Justice.
  • Identify and join a local EJ group and attend. Don’t identify yourself as CCL or necessarily promote the Energy Innovation Act. Simply sit, listen and learn about the community and the relevant concerns of the community. Build relationships and trust, and wait for people to ask. It will take time; move at the speed of trust.
  • Offer something of value to EJ groups before asking for anything (such as endorsements). Volunteer on their missions where help is needed. Something that CCL chapters can offer is a presentation of Lobby Training, not just in climate but lobby training and effective citizen advocacy in general. 
  • Bring up and discuss EJ with your chapter and in your action team. Look at your mission through an EJ lens. 
  • Work to identify and uplift women of color for every panel in your regional conference and suggest it to your conference panel coordinator. 
  • Identify EJ advocates on Twitter or Facebook and subscribe to their feed.
Diversity: Related but not the same

Remember our Conservative Caucus’s admonition~ If we only grow our “left wing,” then we will fly around in circles. If we only grow by appealing to people we know in our social circles, then we will primarily benefit the mainstream folks who had an input in our policy crafting. 

So what diverse organizations can you reach out to? What about immigrant communities? They may have better insight and new stories to tell about personal experiences in climate impact that you haven’t heard yet. If you have local members join your chapter who are people of color, please also let them know they are welcome to join the new People of the Global Majority Caucus.

Length
Press play to start the video (37m 26s)
Video Outline
To skip ahead to a specific section go to the time indicated in parenthesis.

Introduction & Agenda
(0:00)

Environmental Racism
(3:59)

Jemez Principles
(5:56)

Making the Connection Outreach Deck
(13:45)

Local Chapter Example: CCL NY Rochester
(26:32)

Next Steps & Actions
(34:07)
Instructor(s)
  • Debbie Chang
  • Lisa Danz
  • Sue Hughes-Smith
Downloads
Audio length
Press play to start the audio (37m 26s)
Audio embed code
Audio Outline
To skip ahead to a specific section go to the time indicated in parenthesis.

Introduction & Agenda
(0:00)

Environmental Racism
(3:59)

Jemez Principles
(5:56)

Making the Connection Outreach Deck
(13:45)

Local Chapter Example: CCL NY Rochester
(26:32)

Next Steps & Actions
(34:07)
 
Instructor(s)
  • Debbie Chang
  • Lisa Danz
  • Sue Hughes-Smith

 
Downloads
Download the episode here.
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Join the Climate and Environmental Justice Action Team.
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Category
Training
Topics
Communicating with Others
Format
Audio / Video, XVideo
File Type
PowerPoint (.pptx)