North American Association for Environmental Education (NAAEE)’s Post

Knowledge is Empowering.

Interested in reading how civil society and Mosaic Governance approaches towards nature-based solutions (NBS) can strengthen social and environmental justice? Check out the latest paper by Arjen Buijs and colleagues in the journal Cities: https://lnkd.in/eUrMQfSD The paper argues for the importance of a wider framing of justice in the development of NBS, sensitive to social, cultural, economic, and political inequities as well as understanding potential pathways to enhance not only environmental justice, but also social justice at large. It proposes and exemplifies six potential pathways to strengthen distributive, procedural and recognition justice: greening the neighborhood, diversifying values and practices, empowering people, bridging across communities, linking to institutions, and scaling of inclusive discourses and practices.

Last Thursday, I presented on #LGBTQIA+ livelihoods, #publichealth, and #disasters at Boston University School of Social Work's Equity and Inclusion Speaker Series. Social workers are often first responders during disaster-related crises and their clients experience environmental justice issues such as food deserts, lead poisoning, air pollution, and extreme weather events. Yet, they may not be equipped with information and tools necessary to attend to issues like #climatechange that: 1) are not solely environmental; 2) are not exclusively local; and 3) vary across space and in context. Addressing how LGBTQIA+ social marginalization plays a role in disaster response and preparedness is crucial to better supporting the community. A big thanks to Greer Hamilton, PhD, MSW for her support, as well as to OUT for Sustainability board members Leo Goldsmith and Vanessa Raditz for their research on LGBTQIA+ discrimination and bias during disasters.

From one generation to another, the youth are stepping up to protect our planet, demonstrating that they can be #PartOfThePlan, too! In her article, Shivani Rai explores how young individuals are crucial in keeping #Indigenous environmental knowledge alive. https://lnkd.in/dX_2uqg4

United Nations Observances The existence of international days predates the establishment of the United Nations, but the UN has embraced them as a powerful advocacy tool. The United Nations observes designated days, weeks, years, and decades, each with a theme, or topic. By creating special observances, the United Nations promotes international awareness and action on these issues. Each international day offers many actors the opportunity to organize activities related to the theme of the day. Organizations and offices of the United Nations system, and most importantly, governments, civil society, the public and private sectors, schools, universities and, more generally, citizens, make an international day a springboard for awareness-raising actions. The majority of observances have been established by resolutions of the United Nations General Assembly, although some have been designated by UN specialized agencies. The United Nations also observes anniversaries of key events in its history.

''This initiative transcended a simple tree-planting exercise. By actively involving students from both schools, the NSF fostered a sense of environmental responsibility and ownership among the younger generation..'' Learn more: https://lnkd.in/eeaQ68Y2 #MakeTheWorldBetter

"Beyond urban issues, there are ample opportunities to tell stories of Black Canadians in rural communities, & how environmental racism of one form or another (access to land, water, capital, etc.) might have affected their communities." - John Sandlos https://lnkd.in/gdx9HRex #blackhistorymonth #blackhistory #canadianhistory #environmentalhistory

🌱 Excited to be a guest speaker at the upcoming webinar on Understanding Carbon Footprint! organized by WatchGreen Unizik Join me as we explore practical ways to reduce our environmental impact and pave the way towards a greener future. Don't miss out on this crucial discussion! Register now. #CarbonFootprint #Sustainability #GreenFuture 🌍"

These are 4 ways you can acknowledge this day. Which one of these 4 works for you?

Almost 30 years ago, the Southwest Network for Environmental and Economic Justice (SNEEJ) convened activists in New Mexico for a "Working Group Meeting on Globalization and Trade" that culminated in the adoption of the Jemez Principles. These principles call upon organizations to enact the following practices in order to work across difference, level power imbalances, and center #justice in collaborative organizing: 1️⃣ Be inclusive 2️⃣ Emphasize bottom-up organizing 3️⃣ "Let people speak for themselves" 4️⃣ Work together in solidarity and mutuality 5️⃣ Build just relationships 6️⃣ Commit to transformation from a mode of individualism to community-centeredness. Throughout my research on drinking water management in Nicaragua, I saw rural residents and their allies embrace the ethos of the Jemez Principles for Democratic Organizing in their community-based organizing for political recognition. These principles are central to the work of environmental justice advocates and organizers in the U.S., particularly people of color. Moreover, they reflect best practices that organizations seeking to work in partnership with communities most impacted by environmental degradation must embrace -- both for building authentic, equity-centered partnerships and for reaching the right outcomes. I'm excited to be participating in a training led by Common Spark Consulting on how to develop equitable community engagement strategies. This is part of the "Energy (in)Equity" training series "applying a racial justice and equity lens to unveil systemic injustices perpetuated through the energy industry." The series focuses on the role policy can play in addressing energy injustice; check it out here: https://lnkd.in/g_wG36DC 💠 Link to Jemez Principles: https://lnkd.in/g_Fy3Rg7 #CommunityEngagement #JemezPrinciples #SocialJustice #EJ #EnvironmentalJustice #EnergyEquity