Why Narrative Change?
The United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s latest report is clear evidence that climate change is the most dangerous and pressing global issue we face. Climate change, though a global issue, disproportionately impacts low-income and BIPOC communities, who are already bearing the brunt of many environmental challenges. These communities, known as Environmental Justice (EJ) Communities, have been dealing with the past and present impacts of pollution and environmental hazards for decades, such as poor air quality, water contamination, deforestation, toxic soil, and more. Grassroots organizers and activists in many EJ communities have made significant strides in correcting environmental injustices in recent decades. But the present impacts of climate change exacerbate existing environmental challenges and introduce new ones for these communities. Yet, they are often left out of conversations about climate solutions. Their lived experiences, stories, and community-generated solutions are sidelined or ignored. This results in irrelevant, insufficient, or even harmful attempts at addressing climate challenges at local, national, and global levels.
We believe that in order to inspire new solutions, imagine hopeful futures, and produce meaningful and relevant policies related to the climate crisis, environmental justice communities need to be at the center of the conversation.
