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For Immediate Release: April 21, 2016
Ahead of Earth Day, Green 2.0 Calls for Leading Environmental Organizations to Renew Commitment to Diversity Data Transparency
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Green 2.0, an initiative dedicated to increasing racial diversity across mainstream environmental NGOs and foundations, today marked the one-year anniversary of the first unveiling of diversity data across the top 40 environmental organizations by calling for organizations to update their diversity data on GuideStar.
“In 2014, we partnered with D5 and GuideStar to create a space for environmental organizations to share their diversity data as a first step to addressing the movement’s persistent lack of diversity. Now that we have a mechanism for reporting, it’s critical that we have a sustained commitment year after year so that we may soon measure the impact of efforts organizations are undertaking internally to improve their diversity,” said Robert Raben, founder and president of Green 2.0.
“One year ago, Green 2.0 was excited to report that 25 of the leading 43 environmental organizations had shared their diversity data with the collective intention of being transparent about their status and a hope that this would also happen across the movement. Since that time, another six organizations have shared their data. Today, we call on those who led by example one year ago to renew their commitment, and for the lagging environmental organizations to step up by July 1st. While we will not measure movement in the numbers over the past year, we are planning on setting a standard for diversity, equity and inclusion work, and holding organizations accountable in the coming years. For the environmental movement to become inclusive, we need to adopt the new habit of having this conversation publicly and that it is most productive when informed by current diversity data,” said Whitney Tome, executive director of Green 2.0.
The Sierra Club, one of the largest organizations in the movement, was among the first to share its data and has committed to posting updated numbers by July 1st.
“To change everything, we need everyone. In order to achieve the critical goals we share across the movement it is essential that America’s largest environmental organizations reflect the diversity of our country and the communities most affected by pollution and climate disruption. That’s why the Sierra Club took additional steps this year — including hiring a Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion — to make sure these values are part of everything we do as an organization, and put into action,” said Michael Brune, Sierra Club Executive Director. “As the essential work of Green 2.0 moves forward, we urge all of our colleagues across the movement to commit to the transparency necessary to show where we are and how far we have to go.”
Leading organizations that have shared their diversity data on GuideStar are: ClimateWorks Foundation; Environmental Defense Fund; The Nature Conservancy; Energy Foundation; Sierra Club; The Conservation Fund; The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC); National Parks Conservation Association; League of Conservation Voters; National Wildlife Federation; National Audubon Society; The Trust for Public Land; The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF); Earthjustice; Wilderness Society; Green for All; BlueGreen Alliance; Resource Media; Greenpeace; Clean Water Action; Union of Concerned Scientists; Friends of the Earth; US Climate Action Network (USCAN); River Network; Defenders of Wildlife; Center for Biological Diversity; Center for International Environmental Law; Society of Environmental Journalists; Rails-to-Trails Conservancy; Population Connection; and Southwest Research and Info Center. World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and Physicians for Social Responsibility (PSR) have pledged to share their data. Further information about these organizations and others is available at www.diversegreen.org. |
