It’s certainly true that the “big green” groups — and their boards — remain mostly white.
Only about 1% of environmental grantmaking from 12 of the largest environmental funders went to environmental justice groups. Research by the Solutions Project found that half of philanthropic funding on climate issues goes to 20 national organizations, 90% of which are led by white people, 80% by men.
Rooted in Black, Indigenous and people of color (BIPOC) communities, environmental justice groups have a track record of wins, a deep bench of talent, and earned trust that enables them to mobilize the communities where they live and work.
Those closest to the problem are the ones who can identify solutions. People of color live in communities that are disproportionately affected by environmental problems.
With successful strategies and organizing, BIPOC-led groups have produced transformational action on climate and environmental racism.
BIPOC-led environmental justice groups take an approach that differs from the dominant green-group paradigm because they have been doing the work for decades and have proven that climate action works and it's never too late!
Thank you to Juvencio Rocha Peralta, ED of AMEXICAN, for joining this conversation series on Climate Change and the Latinx Community.
