How can philanthropy advance environmental justice?

Community well-being is intrinsically tied to environmental health. The environment cannot be ignored in efforts to advance human rights, social justice, health equity, and other priorities. The environmental justice movement has broadened the scope of environmentalism beyond conservation and protection to aiming for the creation of healthy places to live for everyone. How do we treat those affected by pollution, climate change, and other costs of economic production fairly? How do we meaningfully involve stakeholders in the decisions that affect their lives?

This panel will explore how philanthropists and funders have been—and should be—approaching this movement toward environmental justice. They’ll discuss the role of philanthropy, as well as recommendations for nonprofits seeking to deepen partnerships with philanthropists in these areas.

Moderated by: Dr. Carolyn Kissane, Academic Director and Clinical Professor, NYU SPS Center for Global Affairs; Director, NYU SPS Energy, Climate Justice, and Sustainability Lab

Panel to include:

Jamiah Adams, Senior Vice President of Diversity and Justice, The Climate Reality Project

Lylianna Allala, Climate Justice Director, City of Seattle’s Office of Sustainability and Environment

King Laughlin, SVP, Principal Gifts, National Park Foundation

Melissa Miles, Executive Director, New Jersey Environmental Justice Alliance

Peggy Shepard, Co-Founder and Executive Director, WE ACT for Environmental Justice

This event series is offered as a collaboration between Aperio Philanthropy and the George H. Heyman, Jr. Program for Philanthropy and Fundraising within the NYU SPS Center for Global Affairs.