Our Call to Improve Diversity in the UK's Climate Sector

The climate crisis and environmental pollution have drastic effects on physical and mental health, disproportionately affecting global majority* communities. The lack of diversity in the climate sector means that these issues are not engaged with adequately and are missing the necessary internal understanding required to advocate for improved systems. Calling for more diversity and an increase of inclusive practices in this sector is the first step to positive interventions.

The results in The Race Report (Racial Action for the Climate Emergency), released in December 2022, revealed underwhelming figures. This close-up inspection of the climate and environmental sectors showed a lack of diverse voices as well as a troubling reminder of how much organisations like to think they are doing more than they are. The Report looks at how the global majority makes up only 7% of climate, environmental, nature or sustainability organisations, yet 14% of the UK population. This is an improvement on figures released in previous years, however, as the disproportionately negative consequences of the climate crisis exponentially rise in global majority communities, so too must the interventions to include us in the conversation and support of our solutions.

We have launched a Climate Health Community Fund supported by funding from Impact on Urban Health. This collaboration is set to distribute £440,000 in project and core grant funding in support of Black and Brown-led community organisations operating in the intersection of climate, health and community engagement and advocacy. Funds like this provide much-needed support, improve the diversity of voices empowered to lead a conversation about climate in local community spaces and increase awareness of climate and its effects on health at a grassroots level in so-called “hard to reach” communities.

For updates on other collaborations and general information on our funding and Diversity & Inclusion work, sign up for our Do it Now Now and Common Call newsletters.

*See our previous article on our thoughts on the usage of the global majority as opposed to people of colour