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.

Intersectionality and inclusion of a diversity of voices is an essential component of true environmental justice. The lack of inclusion and diversity of the movement means that peoples outside the Dominant Culture and marginalised groups, particularly First Nations and People of Colour (FNPOC), face cultural unsafety, lack of leadership, exclusion and discriminatory behaviour. This also results in the sidelining of FNPOC activists within the movement. This also minimises capacity to: address environmental issues with consideration of multiple perspectives, increase focus on environmental justice, reduce homogeneity within progressive social and environmental movements, and broaden our community to build collective action.

By failing to meaningfully engage with, harness the talent, experience and distinctive knowledge of marginialised peoples and 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 and uphold the values of justice, equity, diversity and inclusion.

Steps towards Cultural Safety and environmental justice

We want our Environmental Justice and Cultural Safety Journey to be a collective community process. We welcome everyone to get involved and contribute – by making a donation, by reading the resources linked below, joining our Board or the Environmental Justice Working Group.

We are in the process of implementing 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 people who identify outside the Dominant Culture 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.

We have established an Environmental Justice Working Group (EJWG), 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.

To support our work and learning, consider making a donation to our Environmental Justice learning fund. All donations, no matter the size, make a difference. Your contribution will be directly supporting us to prioritise environmental justice work, and create safe spaces for marginalised groups to be involved with us. You will be joining the Conservation Council on its journey towards becoming an inclusive organisation and environment community.

We guarantee that all funds will be reserved for our justice, equity and inclusion commitment – including, but not limited to, training opportunities for staff and Board and accessing resources such as Diversity Council of Australia Membership.