Dear John,

As the war rages on in Ukraine, we are reminded of just how important fighting against all forms of militaristic expansion are for our communities and Mother Earth. War and the devastation that comes with it, including the continued extraction of fossil fuels and the fight to control them, are calamitous for all peoples. Militaries (and in particular the Pentagon and US military industrial complex) are the biggest polluters on the planet.

If we are truly opposed to climate change and in favor of climate justice, we must stand against war in all its forms and across all our collective lands. It is within this context that many of our members continued the work of fighting for a better world this month.

CJA issued this Open Invitation to Climate Philanthropy today to invite them to learn directly from frontline communities as they plan their giving for the years ahead. 

“It is time to correct historically harmful relationships and power imbalances with each other and Mother Earth. In that spirit, we invite you to join us for a Climate Justice Crash Course for Funders — a journey centered on Climate Justice learning and action in 2022. This invitation is designed to elevate and respond to the injustices of the past and present, and ground us in a visionary, regenerative, and just future.” Read the full letter here.

Earlier this month, leaders from frontline communities throughout the United States joined a discussion moderated by Grist’s editor in chief to delve into the specifics around equitable solutions to the climate crisis. The speakers featured have all worked hard to ensure a voice for their communities while building local, community controlled renewable and regenerative solutions to the crisis.

Watch the discussion with community leaders from across the country as they speak about the framework of centering equity and justice and tackling the root causes of the climate crisis as society moves away from fossil fuels. You’ll hear about real-life examples of how solutions that meet that framework operate on the ground, and learn more about “false solutions” that are on the rise, which rather than benefiting vulnerable communities will ensure they remain sacrifice zones.

In case you missed it, CJA’s Co-Executive Director Bineshi Albert recently gave a TED Talk at the TEDWomen conference in Palm Springs, California. 

She shared many insights: from what she learned while attending the UN Climate Change Conference (COP26) in Glasgow last fall to why frontline wisdom is such an untapped resource and why we need to act with an urgency that we haven’t seen yet, led by community leaders most impacted from the climate crisis.