The 3 Crises Environmental Inequity Some of us feel the affects of climate change much more than others. Inequitable solutions are not solutions. Underserved populations bear the burdens of the environmental crises more than others. In Canada, many of our most underserved communities live in rural areas where they may be more reliant on nature for their livelihoods. They’re also affected by activities like mining and logging, making them more vulnerable to biodiversity loss and climate change. Truly equitable solutions to the environmental crisis will actually be more sustainable in the long-run. Indigenous worldviews take a long-term view of nature, the “7 generations” perspective. And a UBC study found that Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas (IPCAs) have a 30% less decline in biodiversity than areas managed by non-Indigenous groups. Here in Canada, we have a long way to go to battle environmental inequity. But at JGIC, there are reasons for hope. Environmental Inequity: Reasons for Hope Share this video with friends and family to remind them that hope for a better world is in their hands. The Convergence of 3 Crises Here’s how environmental inequity connects with climate change and biodiversity loss. By no fault of their own, marginalized communities are often forced to make decisions that degrade the environment so they can feed and protect their families. For example, swaths of forests in the Chimpscapes of Africa have been cut down to provide fuel and heat to communities that have no other alternatives. And the bushmeat trade, which annihilates threatened animal populations, is sometimes the only avenue to put food on someone’s table or money in their pockets. When we address inequity among our fellow human beings, we are helping to preserve animals and the environment simultaneously. Our community-centred approach addresses this convergence head-on. We prioritize equitable human health and wellness so that everyone can live more sustainable lives in harmony with nature. We have so far to go to realize our human potential for compassion, altruism, and love. Dr. Jane Goodall How We’re Tackling Environmental Inequity Canada Programs Uncovering Common Ground We’re bringing young people of all backgrounds together to learn from each other and implement inclusive solutions for animals, people, and the environment. Learn More Africa Programs Building Community Resilience to Climate Change in Senegal We’re supporting communities in Senegal, particularly women, to implement nature-based solutions to climate change. Learn More News & Updates Champions and Partners How one A.P.E. Fund project inspired a student to reflect: “Plants are like people. We all need love.” Photos: Cara Laudon At Florence Nightingale Elementary in Vancouver, the Green Team meets every week to develop and implement projects focused on the community and the environment – guided by the First Peoples Principles for Learning. This past year, with support from our A.P.E. Fund, 50 students took part in smudging circles, made medicine pouches […] Read More Community Spotlight Real progress, and big environmental changes, can start with just one seed — here’s proof Photo: Emily Brady To protect biodiversity and support youth leadership, the St. Albert Public Library in Alberta used funding from our A.P.E. Fund for its new “One Seed, One Community” project. Through the project, 20 Girl Guides learned how native plants help keep local ecosystems alive. They also planted 250 native plants, and they ran […] Read More Champions and Partners Honouring Tradition: A project that’s fostering Indigenous youth leadership and cultural continuity “I knew some things about my culture, but I didn’t always feel confident sharing them. Learning from Elders and Knowledge Keepers […] helped me build a stronger connection to who I am.” Those words come from one of the students in Terrace Bay, Ontario, who took part in the Honouring Tradition project. Through authentic cultural […] Read More
