JEDI Guiding Principles
At ClimateWorks Foundation, we are driven by our vision of creating a thriving planet for all living beings for generations to come. ClimateWorks is committed to learning, listening, and deepening our efforts on justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion (JEDI) across all dimensions of our Global Intelligence, Global Collaborations and Global Programs and Grantmaking, and Operations, internally and externally; in the U.S. and globally. The convergence of the pandemic, economic upheaval, growing social justice movements, and the escalating impacts of climate change profoundly influenced how we and others in the broader climate community view and approach our work to end the climate crisis and ensure a healthy future for all people and the planet.
The following principles, definitions, values, and their applications are a resource for providing strategic guidance to our staff to help advance our collective work. Our approach will evolve as we apply these principles and learn from their application.
JEDI Values and Definitions
Our commitment to advancing justice and equity requires a shared understanding of key related terms. The following definitions and value statements will inform and guide our work, and ensure clarity in ClimateWorks’ communications when we use these terms. We recognize that language is nuanced, varying by country and context, and commit to the ongoing work of translating these themes to the most fitting language and approaches for the particular locations in which we work.
JUSTICE
We define justice as the duty to identify and support systemic and transformational change to foster fair and equitable treatment, opportunities, and outcomes for all people. Climate action without justice is not a solution but contributes to ongoing injustices. Justice manifests differently depending on the context, group, country, and region, and whether applied within a national context or across countries. Justice requires understanding and acknowledging existing power imbalances and systems of oppression that disproportionately impact specific groups and countries.
We seek to deepen our understanding of the root causes of injustice (systemic racism, discrimination, neocolonialism, exploitation of territories and natural resources, unequal distribution of wealth, etc.) and how we may contribute to addressing them as part of our work to achieve our climate goals.
Our model for justice prioritizes strengthening power through the allocation of resources as well as fair, equitable, and inclusive processes and policies that center oppressed and marginalized communities.
EQUITY
Equity is the achievement of equal outcomes for all, realized through access to power, resources, and knowledge. We strive to co-create systems and solutions – internally, through our convenings, and in our programs and grantmaking – that yield equitable outcomes and correct power imbalances across individuals, organizations, institutions, and countries.
DIVERSITY
Diversity is the presence of different identities, expression of thought, and positions within systems. Examples of diversity in identities may include representation of different races, ethnicities, nationalities, classes, genders, religion, sexual orientation, ages, body size, disabilities, and neurodiversities. Diversity allows us to leverage a broad spectrum of experience, perspectives, and knowledge to realize solutions to our goals and intentionally underpins our thinking, processes, and evaluations. Diversity is critical to the effectiveness of our organization, Board, grantee portfolio, and broader ecosystem, and an accelerant to identifying and implementing solutions to end the climate crisis. When diversity of perspectives and goals results in disagreement, we commit to working through the differences guided by our understanding of justice and equity.
INCLUSION
Inclusion is the act of creating room for and inviting individuals and their diverse human experiences and perspectives, in every aspect of our work. We are building and sustaining an inclusive culture – by supporting different voices and a diverse array of stakeholders in our convenings, co-creating grantmaking strategies with grantees as well as funders, designing workspaces that meet all physical needs, and engaging in transparent communication and collaborative decision-making. This generates an ecosystem of shared power, normalizes and encourages representation and participation by all, and amplifies the voices of those who have historically been and continue to be excluded.
BELONGING
Belonging is the feeling of acceptance, as well as psychological and physical safety through which an individual or group feels welcome and able to show up authentically to an environment. We strive to build a culture of belonging, in both our organization and the spaces we influence, which recognizes that when we show up transparently, genuinely, and authentically it strengthens our work. We also acknowledge that the legacy of colonialism and white supremacy heavily influence how many societies function. We oppose these influences and commit to actively contributing to a field where people can bring their true selves to work, allowing their experiences to be reflected in the solutions we support.