Our Commitment to Climate Justice
350 Colorado is committed to centering Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion in everything we do.
As a climate organization, we’re working to build a livable future for all. While no one will be free from the effects of climate change, the weight of this crisis is not borne equally, and an ethical, effective climate movement must center and empower frontline communities.
Focusing on justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion helps us work to dismantle the structural inequities within our organization, and these values also inform how we approach our climate activism. The climate movement must be inclusive, and we must critically analyze the ways that structural racism and discrimination affect our community and our organization.
LEARN MORE: CLIMATE JUSTICE 101
LEARN MORE: READ ABOUT PRINCIPLES OF CLIMATE JUSTICE
What Does Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Mean To 350 Colorado?
DENVER, COLORADO – at Byron Rogers Federal Building on August 19, 2021 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Leigh Vogel/Getty Images for Green New Deal Network)
We are committed to identifying and addressing inequality in the climate movement, including inequality within our own organization. Our goal is to ensure that those most impacted always have a seat at the table and that we maintain supportive and non-extractive relationships with impacted communities. Our grassroots movement aims to be inclusive and welcoming to all.
This is a complex issue that will take time, resources, and commitment from our leadership and membership to undertake our goals. It is going to take everyone to adequately solve the climate crisis – and the more we can do to be inclusive and collaborative across diverse communities the more effective we will be, and the stronger our voice becomes as we center those most directly impacted by climate and environmental harm. The root causes of climate injustice and other forms of injustice are related and that forms of oppression, particularly structural and institutionalized, are often feeding into the several issues. It is helpful to acknowledge that the roots of the climate crisis are connected to so many other forms of injustice and that we can, and indeed must work together to address these issues. Diversity and inclusiveness needs to include the disability and chronically ill community and other marginalized and impacted groups.
Showing that JEDI is not a supplemental issue to climate change, but rather a central element is absolutely essential to our organizing.
As staff, volunteers, and community members, we make a strong commitment to not make reference to or assumptions about others based upon the color of their skin, heritage, age, religion, or sexual preference, with a goal of cultivating an inclusive and welcoming movement and community.
350 Colorado’s Justice, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Leaders Program
In 2022, 350 Colorado launched a new Justice, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Leaders program, including offering a series of skill-building trainings with JEDI Leadership Coach Angela Davis. We welcome you to join and get involved in our work to create a more just and equitable future!