Press Mention
Watching for birds, diversity: Audubon groups pledge change
By Philip Marcelo, Read on The Associated Press BOSTON (AP) — When Boston socialites Minna Hall and Harriet Hemenway sought to end the slaughter of birds in the name of 19th century high fashion, they picked a logical namesake for their cause: John James Audubon, a naturalist celebrated for his stunning watercolors of American birds. Now, 125…
Read MoreCongressional Panels Called Out on Lack of Diversity in Hearings
Congressional committees have had an Achilles heel when it comes to ensuring racial and ethnic diversity of witnesses at hearings and need to fix it now, an environmental group said in a letter Wednesday. “Hearings are an integral element of the policy making process, and the inclusion of witnesses of color is key to ensuring that people across our nation have their voices heard,” wrote Andres Jimenez, executive director for Green 2.0, which pushes for increased diversity among environmental organizations.
Read MoreEven With All Eyes on Racial Justice, Few Green Funders Are Sharing Their Data
Over the past eight months, Ashindi Maxton and Danielle Deane-Ryan have spoken to 36 of the nation’s 40 largest climate funders. The pair, who are executive director and senior advisor of the Donors of Color Network, respectively, asked them all the same question: What percentage of the institution’s funding goes to Black, Indigenous and people of color-led organizations?
Read MoreThe Lack of Diversity in Environmental Philanthropy
The United States experienced 22 disasters that exceeded $1 billion each in damages last year. As a response, U.S. President Biden just signed an executive order which directs various federal agencies and departments to analyze the risks of the climate crisis on the national economy and security.
Read MoreGo read this story about why it’s time to scrap racist bird names
Some 150 birds named for people tied to slavery and white supremacy could eventuallyget new monikers as part of an ongoing reckoning with racism within the world of birding. That includes Jameson’s firefinch, named for a British naturalist who bought a young girl while in Africa “as a joke” and then drew pictures of her being brutally killed. In a new story this week, Washington Post reporter Darryl Fears breaks down the horrific history of ornithology that has managed to be scrubbed clean in many history books.
Read MoreGreenhouse Pioneer: Andres Jimenez, Green 2.0
People of colour are disproportionately affected by climate change and pollution, yet are severely under-represented in the organization and foundations working to tackle these issues. Green 2.0 is working to change that.
Read MoreAudubon CEO steps down amid internal turmoil
By Jeremy P. Jacobs, Read on E&E News National Audubon Society CEO David Yarnold will be stepping down next month, the organization announced, citing “cultural issues that have come to light” as the group faced botched diversity training, two rounds of layoffs and a burgeoning staff unionizing effort over the last year. Board chair Maggie…
Read MoreEnvironmental organizations remain overwhelmingly white
Executive Director Andrés Jimenez says increasing diversity is crucial for addressing the climate crisis. From heat waves to flooding, climate change disproportionately harms communities of color. But Andrés Jimenez, executive director of the nonprofit Green 2.0, says that among organizations working on climate solutions, “when you look around the table at the decision makers, what…
Read MoreBiden needs to make good on environmental justice promises
By Varshini Prakash and Andrés Jimenez, opinion contributors The views expressed by contributors are their own and not the view of The Hill. After four years of an administration that seemed not only indifferent but actively hostile to questions of environmental justice (EJ), the prospect of a Biden administration carries the hope of a long-needed…
Read MoreFunding a Better, Broader Environmental Movement
By Arturo Garcia-Costas and Michele Kumi Baer Climate change and pollution affects us all, but some more than others. The poor, the infirm, and the elderly are particularly vulnerable to temperature extremes and violent storms. Low-income communities of color often bear the brunt of our civilization’s legacy of pollution: from the noxious facilities in their…
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