Dear John,

These past couple of months have been a true testament to the ways in which our communities come together in crisis. 2020 tested us and 2021 has continued to push folks forward into action, through mutual aid and support, among other things. As winter storms hit Texas and the South, outages span the country, nonsensical acquittals, and a lack of national response to support, we continue to show that we got we! The CJA family is pushing onward for a Just Transition, no matter the obstacles that come our way. 

From all of us at CJA, Happy Black Futures Month (aka Black History Month) and check us out on our social media platforms @CJAOurPower to learn more from our members.

Last week, CJA members Southwest Workers Union, t.e.j.a.s and local Texas community organizations demanded a Just Recovery from local and state officials. As frontline communities continue to care for each other through mutual aid networks long established, we encourage you to take a moment and learn what frontline communities in Texas are calling for and why. For more information and the role CJA is asking officials and philanthropy to play after the storms, check out our most recent press statement: Climate Justice Alliance Demands Energy Democracy & Just Recovery for Millions Abandoned without Power or Water.

It Takes Roots- of which we are a founding member with our sister alliances Grassroots Global Justice Alliance, Indigenous Environmental Network, and Right to the City Alliance- is excited to release a new video, highlighting our members' call for solutions led by the frontlines. The work has just begun to hold a Biden presidency accountable to advancing the solutions that we have been pushing for years. We hope you’ll enjoy and spread the word on what we mean by a Just Recovery.

The People Who Caused the Climate Crisis Aren’t the Ones Who Will Solve It. Learn why by watching Angela Mahecha's recently aired TED Talk. You’ll also get an inside look at her story, the importance of frontline wisdom and leadership, and why we must continue building local solutions that make Just Transition real on the ground.

As Market Based Projects Gear Up, CJA Members Call on New Leadership to Be Bold to Tackle Climate Change

Just before the new Administration took office this year, an Omnibus Spending Bill was passed in December 2020. Although it supported some initiatives such as renewables, the consequences for frontline communities for years to come will be dire due to the inclusion of big business initiatives masquerading as climate solutions. These measures will only prop up and continue to subsidize the fossil fuel industry while causing harm to frontline communities and the planet. Read our most recent fact sheet: The Omnibus Appropriations Act & What It Means for Frontline Communities to learn why. 

Although we are hopeful of some of the opportunities that come with the Biden/Harris administration we also know that systemic change only comes through organized action and pressure. That’s why CJA and our members continue to engage in a variety of efforts and campaigns to push for comprehensive solutions. 

This week, CJA member Grassroots Global Justice Alliance, the United Frontline Table and the Feminist Green New Deal hosted a teach-in on a Feminist Economy for People and Planet. In case you missed it, you can view the event here.  

Through our participation in the Green New Deal Network, earlier this month we signed onto a letter to Biden to support the THRIVE Agenda in an effort to ensure its principles are reflected in any upcoming recovery bills and that comprehensive solutions that tackle economic disenfranchisement, climate change and white supremacy are front and center. We’ve also supported legislation in Congress that could lay the groundwork for comprehensive and systemic change such as the Climate Emergency Act and the Environmental Justice Mapping & Data Collection Act, to name a few. 

For more information or questions feel free to reach out to the policy cluster at: [email protected]

For decades, grassroots organizations have produced outsized social change impacts, in spite of being chronically and severely underfunded. In the face of a global pandemic and racial justice uprisings the work and leadership of the grassroots now more than ever needs philanthropy to move away from their traditional giving patterns, and towards supporting/trusting Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) led organizations. To that end, the Donors of Color Network launched the Climate Justice Funders Pledge. The pledge calls for at least 30 percent of funders’ U.S. climate dollars to go to BIPOC-led justice-focused groups, and for greater transparency in reporting from donors. Donors of Color Network will reach out to top philanthropies to invite their participation, with transparency and verification to follow via their Candid e-portal. This pledge presents a concrete opportunity for major foundations that have made statements of support for racial justice to act on those commitments and redirect funding to where it is most needed and most effective. Whether or not you are associated with a foundation, we encourage everyone to check out the important information being shared by this campaign.