For immediate release: December 10, 2024
Media Contact: Media@diversegreen.org or (202) 921-2406
Green 2.0 Releases Annual Transparency Report, Showing Signs of Regression
WASHINGTON, DC – Green 2.0, an organization committed to championing equity in the environmental sector, released its eighth annual Transparency Report. Alarmingly, this year marks the first decline of racial and ethnic diversity in NGOs throughout the history of this report.
The Transparency Report is released annually by Green 2.0 to track equity indicators within NGOs and foundations in the environmental sector. Dr. Chandler Puritty led the 2024 Transparency Report analysis by looking at ethnic and racial identity, gender identity, disability status, organization-wide policies and practices – and for the first time – sexual orientation of staff.
Highlights of the 2024 Transparency Report Card:
- Progress towards a more equitable environmental sector has not only stalled, it’s reversing. After an upward trend since 2017, the percentage of full-time staff of color in NGOs fell by 9% from 2023 to 2024.
- While some equitable policies and practices are becoming more favorable, others are falling behind. Over 70% of NGOs did not have a formal mentorship program and around 60% lacked funded employee resource or affinity groups.
- Women make up the majority of heads of organizations in foundations. While men make up around one third of heads of organizations in foundations, women represent around two thirds. There was no representation of transgender or gender-expansive people.
- Sexual orientation and disability status are largely not tracked. Sexual orientation was the largest category of missing data, with NGOs and foundations lacking data for 61.5% and 87.4% of all staff respectively. NGOs and foundations also lacked data for the disability status of 57.4% and 63.9% of full-time staff respectively.
“The coalition to protect our planet and people can only thrive if every community can provide their solutions and knowledge to our work. The problems are too big and the stakes too high for us not to work together and have the perspectives of every community present. We must continue to lead on equity and demonstrate the effectiveness and power of a movement that is reflective of our nation,” said Adriane Alicea, Managing Director of Green 2.0.
“Elevating the global voices of underrepresented and Indigenous communities is not merely a moral responsibility; it is a strategic imperative for safeguarding our planet, preserving its biodiversity, and ensuring a just and sustainable future for all. By fostering a culture of respect, humility, and intentional cultural curiosity, we can unlock innovative, community-driven solutions rooted in the lived experiences and ancestral wisdom of these communities. At The Nature Conservancy, we view the insights of the Green 2.0 report as vital to our mission, and we remain steadfast in our commitment to learning, evolving, and collaborating to create a future where equity and conservation are inextricably linked,” said James Page, Chief Global Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer of The Nature Conservancy.
“Only by understanding why our colleagues of color are departing the conservation community can we adapt and more fully show up for those who remain. Representation matters, and retaining talent, understanding our different lived experiences, and making space for us to lead is critical to create a more inclusive and stronger conservation movement. I’m rolling up my sleeves and working that much harder with others to create community networks like the Alliance for Indigenous Environmental Stewardship (AIES) where we support people who are working on Indigenous conservation efforts,” said Starlyn Miller, Native Lands Partnership Director of The Wilderness Society.
“The Green 2.0 Transparency Report indicates that environmental organizations need to do more to diversify their candidates. We can’t think of saving the planet and its people when the majority of the people who are represented in the organizations do not come from marginalized communities. Environmental organizations must and continue to invest in diversity, equity, and inclusion work if they are truly seeking to save the planet. Having an employee base full of diversity is a healthy ecosystem,” said Isaias Hernandez, Environmentalist and Storyteller of QueerBrownVegan.
To view this year’s Transparency Report please click HERE.
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ABOUT GREEN 2.0: Green 2.0 is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization and serves as an accountability partner championing the environmental sector’s commitment to an inclusive and equitable movement. Through actionable research and resources, we drive culture change so that historically marginalized communities can thrive and lead on environmental issues. To learn more about Green 2.0, please visit diversegreen.org.