02.04.22

LIVESTREAM NEXT WEEK: Justice, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion in Environmental Groups on Tuesday

Washington, D.C. – The Natural Resources Committee is holding one livestreamed event next week.

TUESDAY, FEB. 8

The full Committee, led by Chair Raúl M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.), will hold an oversight hearing titled Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion in Environmental Policymaking: The Role of Environmental Organizations and Grantmaking Foundations.  

Communities of color and Indigenous Peoples are disproportionately impacted by environmental hazards and bear the brunt of the most damaging effects of climate change. However, these same communities are underrepresented in the staff, leadership, and advisory boards of major environmental and climate change-focused non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and grantmaking foundations. 

These organizations play an essential role in the Committee’s policymaking. For Congress to meet its legislative objectives to meaningfully address the climate crises and achieve environmental justice, communities of color and Indigenous Peoples must have adequate representation and decision-making authority in environmental NGOs and foundations. Increasing justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion in organizations is critical to meeting this goal. 

This hearing will examine recent progress in increasing overall diversity in NGOs, as well as continued shortcomings in diversifying leadership. The hearing will also highlight the current funding patterns of environmental grantmaking foundations. Witnesses will discuss strategies for increasing justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion across these organizations and describe how doing so positively influences policymaking and implementation. 

Witnesses

  • Mr. Abdul Dosunmu, Campaign Manager, Climate Funders Justice Pledge, Donors of Color Network
  • Mr. Peter Forbes, Co-Founder, First Light
  • Keya Chatterjee, Executive Director, U.S. Climate Action Network
  • Minority Witness TBD

When: 10:00 a.m. Eastern time

Watch Live: https://youtu.be/mcLl8F5nSEY

Press Contact

Media Contact: David Shen

(202) 225-6065 or (202) 860-6494 mobile