The Thirteenth Recommendation: Climate Justice and Racial Justice in Leeds
Our Justice Lead, Emma Temple, shares a reflection on our current Leeds Craftivists campaign…
In our Craftivists community this term, we have been reflecting on the links between Climate Justice and Racial Justice. We know that contributions to the climate crisis have primarily come from white, western societies since The Industrial Revolution, and research shows that the effects of these actions have disproportionately affected black and brown communities, both globally and in the UK. Earlier this year, we spent time exploring a Transform Trade campaign which was a really good example of how systems and supply demands here are affecting the climate and communities abroad, and you can read more about that campaign here.
We started our current campaign focus by watching this short film from Greenpeace, exploring the links between modern multinational corporations, the British empire, and the transatlantic slave trade. It’s essential viewing for anyone who is new to these ideas, or wants to understand just how deep-rooted these links are.
More recently, we’ve been learning about the Thirteenth Recommendation. This report was written by the Racial Justice Network in response to the first wave of Climate Emergency responses in Leeds in 2019
The Report details all the ways that the embodied wisdom of racially minoritised people has been pushed out of climate spaces, and white Euro-centric ideologies have dominated. The report also concludes with ten solutions and ways forward, to inspire new ways of thinking and linking up intersectionalities in social justice communities.
What is needed? The Solutions and Ways Forward
Equitable resourcing
Focus on the global: Internationalism and Intersections linked up
What is Radical Solidarity?
Centre marginalised and racialised voices
Cognitive Justice
Sankofa (interconnection of past, present and future)
Decolonisation of the Climate Movement as it exists
Develop decolonial strategies
Humility/ openness to learn
Collective consciousness, community building and addressing conflict
The Report says…
“Most climate justice spaces tokenise Black and Brown people by inviting them to ‘White’ spaces but not welcoming, honouring or grounding in the embodied knowledge frameworks they are connected to. RJN and its Race and Climate Justice work centres Black and Brown people and communities in the majority world who face the worst impacts of ‘the climate crisis’, welcoming, honouring and grounding in their wholeness, connection to land and seeing these as foundational to true climate justice and planetary repair.”
“Our international, intergenerational and intersectional way of working has attracted different audiences and helped maintain relationships with many individuals and groups. This has meant that those who often feel minoritised, whose views and understandings present as alternative or marginalised, feel safer, welcome and their knowledge considered. This access and these relationships have proved effective especially where learning is shared and whilst uplifting or emboldening voices and perspectives, particularly of individuals who would be considered too radical or ‘hard to reach’ by mainstream society.”
We would really encourage you to read this report and share it with people you know, to deepen our understanding of the changes needed in activist spaces, and work towards a just future that includes and honours the dignity of everyone.