To kick off Earth Month at Starboard and SOMWR we are focusing on the topic of Climate Justice. Importantly as a B-Corp we’re supported by B-Lab which has shared a working Climate Justice tool kit to help us learn and implement the topic within our workings.
Today we will share what it is, who it affects and what businesses can do to help.
What is Climate Justice?
Climate Justice means recognising that the effects of climate change will be felt disproportionately by marginalised communities and people of colour.
Hana Kajimura, Sustainability Manager, Allbirds
How do we approach it?
This topic needs a human-centred approach, with recognition that climate change is worsening due to human behaviour. More importantly, low-income communities and people of colour are unfairly living with the negative effects of climate change, much more than others in the world.
Furthermore, the voices of these people must be the focus. Whilst also developing a leadership from the needs and voices from those affected the most. On the whole, we must all support people and groups who are being marginalised, helping their voices become the loudest in the room for change.
As you can imagine, Climate Justice is not a simple issue. Overall, this intersectional issue has a deep history within economies, cultures and even the natural world. In any event, the way any business works toward environmental justice will be different with new approaches and new ways of thinking. Furthermore, the solutions need to be multi-dimensional and systems focused.
View this Ted Talk by Kimberlé Crenshaw to understand intersectional issues within the communities of people of colour.
5 Key Climate Injustices
Why should you care?
In essence, climate change impacts real people and living creatures and the actual negative effects of climate change can be reduced! Because we know this, taking action is the right thing to do.
Above all, each of us can bring value to help the people and communities impacted by our business actions become strong and resilient. However, solving the climate emergency will not happen unless we all include Climate Justice in our ways of working.
To summarise, watch the video below about the ‘Donut of Socal and Planetary Boundaries’. All areas of the chart is needs focus to develop a sustainable future for all.
Pukka Tea’s: An Example of Climate Justice in Business
For example, Pukka Herb works with those who supply the raw materials of their tea. Focusing their lense on the suppliers who are struggling with water scarcity and soil erosion which in turn, depletes their ability to grow the tea that generates their income. Their supporting project includes planting jack fruit trees to help store water in the ground and reduce soil erosion. Strengthening the local communities’ resilience to the changing weather. Further efforts to help generate further income from projects such as beekeeping.
Together We Can Achieve More
Ultimately, Climate Justice needs businesses to collaborate using a strategy that suits their company. Starboard will be using the ‘B-Lab Playbook and Climate Justice Toolkit to understand how we can enhance the climate change efforts we already have in place to help everyone that our business affects.
The B-Lab Climate Justice Toolkit can be downloaded here. Furthermore, you can learn more from B-Lab and Climate Justice here.
