Centring Anti-Racism in the Climate Space
Over the last few weeks, acts of racist violence against Black and Indigenous people across North America have been front and centre. These issues are not new. Black, Indigenous and People of Colour (BIPOC) leaders, organizations and communities have long been working to dismantle systemic inequalities while keeping both people and the planet at the forefront. Social change organizations like Youth Climate Lab (YCL) are indebted to their work, and have a role to play to support, amplify and compensate their voices and ideas.
Climate change is a symptom of intersecting systemic forces at play, such as colonialism, capitalism, patriarchy - the same that cause and perpetuate racism against BIPOC. Communities made vulnerable by entrenched systemic issues are disproportionately impacted by climate change, which is why our work must continue to be intersectional. The YCL team recognizes our immense privilege, and the responsibility that comes with it. YCL was started and is currently led by two white and white-passing women. We recognize and are unpacking the multiple ways we have benefited from white supremacy and now more than ever, the role we need to play at each and every level that is within our control to address this.
We’ve spent the last few weeks discussing and reflecting on how best to take action at both an individual and organizational level going forward. Here’s a glimpse into the work we’re doing:
Paid days of (un)learning for our staff to read and reflect on anti-racism resources, commit to personal and organizational unlearning journeys, and help shape internal processes.
Anti-racism training for our staff and Board of Directors, that is led and delivered by BIPOC youth. We will also incorporate this training into our onboarding process for future staff.
Allyship in our internal and external work. We will be reviewing our policies with an anti-racism lens and continue to deepen our strategy on practicing allyship with BIPOC individuals, organizations and communities.
Give up space. Co-Founders Ana and Dominique will continue to carefully consider if our voices are needed at speaking engagements we are offered. We will continue to challenge the composition of panels and/or events we are asked to attend, and will unequivocally give our space up if no BIPOC voices are represented.
Why are we sharing this?
We recognize that allyship is not an identity. According to PeerNetBC, quoted in Layla F. Saad’s Me and White Supremacy (an amazing resource that many of our team members are reading), it’s a lifelong process of building relationships based on trust, consistency and accountability with individuals and/or groups made vulnerable. While we were hesitant to share the details of our commitments to avoid centering ourselves, we hope this statement serves to hold ourselves - both as individuals and as an organization - accountable to do the work. We also hope this encourages other white-led organizations in the climate and energy spaces to reflect and take action.
To learn more about our commitment and actions, please contact hello@youthclimatelab.org.