EESI Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice Statement

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EESI is working towards a sustainable, resilient, and equitable world by advancing science-based solutions for climate change, energy, and environmental challenges. We recognize that longstanding systemic barriers impede the advancement of fair and inclusive environmental policies and limit the full participation of Black, Indigenous, people of color, and legacy and frontline communities. Climate change, structural and environmental racism, and economic inequality are inextricably linked and pervade all environmental and energy issues. EESI recognizes that there is much more work to be done to dismantle these systemic injustices and barriers to environmental and economic progress.

EESI holds justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion as core values. The EESI team, including staff, board members, interns, and fellows, is committed to these principles. They will guide our work and help us establish objectives and measure progress as we incorporate environmental and climate justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion into EESI’s technical assistance programs, policy work, communications, and operations:

 

Justice

  • Incorporate environmental and climate justice voices, issues, concepts, and ideas into EESI’s technical assistance programs, policy work, communications, and operations.
  • Learn about systemic and structural injustices, and use that knowledge to guide our work. This includes addressing the disproportionate impacts of water and air pollution in Black, Indigenous, people of color, and legacy and frontline communities.
  • Amplify the voices and expertise of Black, Indigenous, people of color communities, community-based organizations, and environmental justice leaders in our work, including in our articles, briefings, research, podcasts, and social media.
  • Elevate climate, energy, and environmental policies with justice as a core principle.
  • Support local stakeholders to launch and scale up programs that increase energy affordability and expand clean energy access for homes and businesses, particularly in rural and low-income populations and Black, Indigenous, and people of color communities.

 

Equity

  • Ensure EESI considers and advances equity, including in our technical assistance programs, policy work, communications, and operations.
  • Acknowledge that all EESI team members come from different experiences and backgrounds and require different and varied resources to succeed. Being equitable requires providing different resources to reach organizational goals.
  • Review and adapt, as necessary, organizational procedures to remove barriers that may prevent EESI team members from reaching their full potential.
  • Commit to prioritizing pay equity and transparency.

 

Diversity

  • Develop and advance climate change, clean energy, and environmental policies and programs informed by the varied experiences of Black, Indigenous, people of color, and legacy and frontline communities.
  • Work to recruit and retain EESI team members with diverse backgrounds and identities.
  • Provide training, resources, and professional development opportunities to educate all EESI team members on diversity, and in particular on anti-racism.
  • Consider and value diversity when adding to our Board of Directors and Advisory Board and in building our briefing panels, cultivating partnerships, and assisting partners in the development of programs.

 

Inclusion

  • Amplify the voices of Black, Indigenous, people of color, and legacy and frontline communities that face climate impacts now and in the future through the full range of EESI’s activities.
  • Foster an inclusive organization where all the ideas and customs of the EESI team, donors, and partners are respected and reflected in decision-making processes and implementation.
  • Embrace differences in perspectives and work on a non-partisan basis to find common ground to advance equitable climate and clean energy solutions.
  • Provide training opportunities for the EESI team on justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion, including how to address discrimination and bias, structural racism, gender inequity, and workplace harassment.

 

EESI's board of directors adopted a board resolution establishing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) as core EESI values.

 

Explore more of EESI's work on environmental justice.

View more entries tagged as Environmental Justice