Dear John,

It’s almost Earth Day! Did you know it was born out of a radical vision during a time of deep struggle? Read more here.

This month, we continue to celebrate radical visions of the grassroots and the groundbreaking work they are doing for environmental and climate justice. 

We also celebrate our larger movement and the gains we continue to make through organizing and activism on the local, state and federal levels. 

For the last few months, we’ve been hard at work developing strategies with our members to both influence the flow of federal public monies, as well as access those funds directly. This winter, the EPA announced that UNITE-EJ (United Network for Impact, Transformation, and Equity in Environmental Justice Communities), a consortium of partners led by CJA, will be the recipient of a $50 million grant and serve as the National Grantmaker in their western region, supporting EPA regions 8, 9, and 10! We’re excited to take on this role and pilot co-governance with the EPA and frontline communities hit first and worst by environmental injustice and the climate crisis. Read our full statement here.

Applications for funding are expected to open in the summer, with grants being made to grassroots communities in the fall. Keep an eye on our website and newsletter for updates.

Congrats to the Chisholm Legacy Project's own Jacqui Patterson, this year’s Time Magazine Earth Award winner! Hear more about the amazing work carried out under her leadership and the importance of frontline community wisdom in this short acceptance video and article on their approach to climate justice.

Just three weeks after Global South countries successfully blocked a dangerous push to legitimize solar geoengineering at the 6th UN Environment Assembly (UNEA6) in Nairobi, Harvard University announced the cancellation of the Stratospheric Controlled Perturbation Experiment, also known as SCoPEx, following years of international pressure.

The project was met with strong criticism and powerful opposition since it was first introduced, in particular from Indigenous Peoples Organizations and civil society groups, including the Hands Off Mother Earth! (HOME!) Alliance, of which the Climate Justice Alliance is a signatory. Read more here.

New Mexico No False Solutions Summit participants took over NM Highlands University in late March. More than 80 attendees gathered for updates and refreshers on fighting back against carbon scams being pushed in the region. Photo by John Acosta.

In March, New Mexico No False Solutions Coalition and Pueblo Action Alliance hosted the third-annual NFS Summit to mobilize activists, advocates, and community members in the South by Southwest region to build and strategize together as the coalition prepares to fend off looming hydrogen and nuclear projects amid a water crisis.

The two-day summit dove deep into defining false solutions, mapping out historical timelines, exploring narrative based strategies in frontline communities, and exploring what's happening in New Mexico.

"We, the grassroots and frontline communities, should have the full participation and understanding of introduced climate policies that include the use and commodification of water, land and air. Most importantly, we must mobilize to ensure protections for our cultural integrity and future generations--New Mexico is not for sale," stated the New Mexico No False Solutions Coalition.

CJA held a Being the Change Training for Trainers in Atlanta earlier this year. Thirty-five participants from 15 CJA member organizations participated and 30 stayed for the Training for Trainers where they prepared, got creative, and practiced presenting and facilitating the Being the Change curriculum. It was a great opportunity to learn from each other and dig into the content of how to organize for Just Transition in frontline communities.