Climate Collective NYC expresses its outrage at the murder of George Floyd and so many Black Americans at the hands of police. We stand in solidarity with Black Americans in the fight against the historical and structural oppression that is embedded in our unjust political system, economy, justice system, and institutions.

We cannot affirm this enough: Black Lives Matter.

Our collective recognizes that climate change stems from the unequal distribution of resources and power. Climate change cannot be addressed without addressing racism. We recognize that the same systems that led to the climate crisis also oppress and disempower people of color. We recognize that communities of color, especially BIPOC communities, continue to be disproportionately affected by climate change. As Adrien Salazar of Demos noted in our inaugural event, “Climate change does not affect everyone equally. It is not just a biophysical problem but also a cultural, social, and political problem.”

Our work is grounded in building community through discourse and collaborative public art projects, because we believe that art and collaboration are essential vehicles for social change. They help us imagine new paths forward, broaden perspectives, and shift power structures. As a community and a collective, we commit to making our own work explicitly anti-racist and inclusive through the following actions:

1. Increase the representation of Black voices as curators, featured speakers, and collaborators at our events and within our membership base.

2. Ask our members to commit to continual learning and un-learning, practice, and education on anti-racist practices on our collaborative art projects.

3. Prioritize collaborations with Black-led nonprofits, collectives, and other groups with a goal to amplify Black voices through collaborative art, outreach, and dialogue about climate change.