Support our Environmental Justice learning journey
To face the challenges of the climate crisis and increases in biodiversity loss, we need collective and inclusive action where everyone is needed and everyone is welcome in order to make meaningful change. However, the Environmental and Climate Justice sector and space is predominantly occupied by White ideals and perspectives. This is due to the inherent rooting of the conservation movement in colonial and White beliefs.
This lack of inclusion and diversity means that First Nations and People of Colour occupying the Climate and Environment space face cultural unsafety, lack of leadership opportunities, microaggressions and outright exclusion. Subsequently, the Climate and Environment sector struggles with recruitment and retention of First Nation and People of Colour (FNPOC) talent, and meaningful representation in leadership positions. This often means that the important knowledge and community support from FNPOC is not appropriately valued or included.
By failing to meaningfully engage with, harness the talent, experience and distinctive knowledge of FNPOC, Environmental organisations are far less impactful in working towards climate justice.
The Conservation Council acknowledges its role and responsibility to undertake growth and learning as an organisation to exemplify the values of justice, equity, diversity and inclusion. Our aim is to create clear pathways for First Nations and People of Colour to access training opportunities, be involved in campaigns, join our board, be actively participating in our Member Groups, events and activities, and lead the movement.
To make future learning in this area, possible, please donate to our Environmental justice learning fund. All donations, no matter the size, make a difference. Your contribution will be directly supporting FNPOC to have a safe place in the Environment movement. You will be joining the Conservation Council on its journey towards becoming an inclusive organisation and environment community.
With your generosity and support, we can begin to create a safe space for FNPOC within the Climate and Environment movement, where the knowledge, experience and talent of FNPOC are valued.
We guarantee that all funds will be reserved for our justice, equity and inclusion commitment – including further training opportunities for staff and Board.
Steps towards Cultural Safety in our organisation
We are currently in the process of developing our Cultural Safety Policy, which will outline the actions we intend to take to ensure that our organisation is a safe place for everyone.
We encourage any First Nations and People of Colour in our community to consider joining our Board. By joining the Board of the Conservation Council, you are provided opportunity to have input and direct involvement with our work, strategic direction and culture. Find out more about how you can get involved with our board here.
As part of this commitment, we have established an Environmental Justice working group, which aims to build cultural safety within our organisation, recognising the ecological and climate crises as a social and political problem, as well as an environmental one and beginning to decolonise our organisation’s perceptions of the environment. Find out more about how to get involved with our working group here.
Resources for further learning:
Environmentalism and the legacy of colonialism — Human Rights Pulse
Inclusive Workplace Toolkit (free download)| Hue
Anti-racism and the environment movement | Local action
Dismantling progressive white supremacy | by Dhaksh Sooriyakumaran
Building a Multi-Ethnic, Inclusive & Antiracist Organization
Cracking the Glass-Cultural Ceiling | Diversity Council Australia
Toolkit For Intersectional Movement Building by Young Friends of the Earth Europe
Anti Racism and Oppression Resources
Climate Justice Gathering 2022 | Democracy in Colour
8 Ways People of Color are Tokenized in Nonprofits | by Helen Kim Ho
Race and climate reading list | Local action
Three ways to take the environmental movement out of its white middle class ghetto | openDemocracy