Our Climate

Today is the International Day of Climate Action! The climate crisis is here, and urgent global action is needed. Joining community groups, events and educating others are just a few great ways to take action. How are you taking action to protect out planet? Write them in the comments to give others ideas of ways they can take action today! ** Join Our Climate in empowering the next generation of climate leaders. Your donation will help provide essential training and resources for youth passionate about making a difference in their communities and beyond. You can donate to support our youth programming by visiting this link https://lnkd.in/gNYF53SV **

Today is National Marine Sanctuary Day, and this year, we are celebrating the newly designated Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary, which is the first marine sanctuary to be nominated by a tribe. To learn more about this incredible news, check out this graphic! **Join Our Climate in empowering the next generation of climate leaders. Your donation will help provide essential training and resources for youth passionate about making a difference in their communities and beyond. You can donate to support our youth programming by visiting this link https://lnkd.in/gNYF53SV **

"You cannot protect the environment unless you empower people, you inform them, and you help them understand that these resources are their own, that they must protect them” – Wangari Maathai. These powerful words by Wangari Maathai remind us that empowering and educating people about the climate crisis and the importance of taking immediate action, is critical to protecting our planet and all of it's inhabitants.

How might the private sector build lasting trust around their climate and environmental goals? 🎯 This is still a challenge at the intersection of sustainability and business, particularly when it comes to more experimental projects (like carbon removal, offsets, or hydrogen production) or Net Zero and/or decarbonization plans. Building trust requires balancing compliance, business goals, and genuine engagement with multiple stakeholders – particularly local residents and employees. I attended a number of panels at Climate Week that touched on these issues and I found these tips helpful: 1️⃣ Listen to community feedback on new ideas and projects. As Morgan King from West Virginia Citizen Action noted in the “Environmental Justice X Climate Tech” panel, “Tech can’t save us if we don’t support community members to solve the climate emergency.” Support could look like providing thoughtful, accessible, and consistent spaces for ideas, questions, thoughts and concerns– and understanding that “buy-in” may not always be possible. Support might also include accepting that some climate mitigation projects are not an acceptable fit for communities. Conversely, you may find that listening to community feedback provides insights into better products or initiatives.  2️⃣ Keep your word to build trust. Companies must keep their obligations, and be held accountable when they don’t. For example, if a new climate tech project promises to produce X number of jobs for local community members, that company must be ready to measure and report on this commitment. Similarly, pledges to achieve Net Zero or phase out harmful products have to be backed with action. At Solutions House, Sriram Rajagopal, Head of Climate and Air Pollution at Inter IKEA Group, shared his experience with building a usable climate plan. IKEA’s 2022 environmental strategy was actually rejected by the company’s board because it didn’t have clear enough details. This prompted his team to go back to the drawing board and make an actionable plan (that did get approved) involving all sections of IKEA's value chain.  3️⃣ Empower employees to be involved and invested in climate efforts. Individuals can be powerful advocates for change and help advance company initiatives. During "Your Marketing Budget is Fueling the Climate Crisis," Kate Ogden highlighted efforts at Seventh Generation to decarbonize corporate spending. She generously shared learnings and tools to help others advocate at work. The resources include case studies and customizable surveys, decision trees, and presentations that can help companies map their way to climate-responsible spending. https://bit.ly/4gRHsxx We know we need corporations to use their power, reach, and resources to help fight for our planet, but that work must happen ethically, inclusively, and transparently if climate solutions are to take root. It was encouraging to hear multiple solutions to this challenge last week. #climateweek #netzero #strategy

This event has been a dream of mine since the start of the year. I’m incredibly thankful for the encouragement that motivated me to make it happen. It surpassed all my expectations! Our Climate I am extremely grateful to Miss Barb’s in Brooklyn for opening their community-centered cafe for us to host the event. A big thank you to Roishetta Sibley Ozane, M.S. and Morgan King for joining me in the Environmental Justice x Climate Tech conversation. As someone from California's Central Valley, I found it inspiring to be joined by a panel of frontline community organizers from other regions. The event ended with a highly appreciated accessible yoga mindfulness practice by Gayatri Sehgal, setting the perfect tone for the rest of Climate Week NYC. The event was designed to amplify the voices of frontline communities and support their calls to action. As the week progressed, it became increasingly evident how crucial this is. Following my first Climate Week NYC experience, it's abundantly clear that the solutions to the climate crisis will not mirror what caused the crisis. This highlights the importance of prioritizing Indigenous sovereignty and community-based solutions. Thank you to everyone who attended and rsvp’d to the event. I look forward to connecting further!

Join Our Climate’s EJ & Comms Manager Audrey Serene A. and guest panelists Roishetta Sibley Ozane, M.S. , Founder, Director, and CEO of Vessel Project of Louisiana, and Morgan King, Climate and Energy Program Manager at West Virginia Citizen Action, for a panel discussion about Environmental Justice and Climate Tech from the perspective of frontline community organizers. This engaging panel discussion will take place at the charming Miss Barb's Café & Wine Bar in Flatbush, Brooklyn. Immerse yourself in an insightful conversation and stay for an accessible yoga mindfulness practice led by Gayatri Sehgal, the founder of bodhisattvism. Don't miss out on this unique opportunity to learn, connect, and engage with frontline community organizers. RSVP here https://lnkd.in/gdPcAHN9, see you there! *Note that the event has a maximum capacity of 75 seating and standing, so please arrive on time to secure your spot. See you there!

Meet ✨ Catherine Mbacho ✨, a member on our Board of Directors! We are so happy to have Catherine on our Board of Directors! If you would like to learn more about Catherine, check out this graphic!

Did you know that the UNGA 79 starts today!? If you're wondering what the UNGA is and what it does, check out this graphic to learn more and see how you can get involved!

Today is #MotivationMonday! This quote by Xiye Bastida is meant to empower us all to use our creativity to imagine and create a future that every living being deserves. What future are you imagining? Comment it below!

Today is National Wildlife Day. This day is to raise awareness of endangered species nationally and globally. One million species are currently at risk of extinction. So how can we better protect wildlife and the planet? Check out this graphic to learn more!