Increasing Tribal Access to Federal Climate Investments

1. ES – The Justice40 Initiative was created to address environmental justice and to spur economic activity for historically marginalized people. This effort was to ensure that 40% of all federal investments in climate and clean energy were to be directed towards disadvantaged communities. However, the revised version left off certain tribal lands due to utilization of census tracts. In collaboration with Native Advisory and NDN Collective’s Climate Justice team I helped put together informational tool kits directed toward tribal communities. This included a screening tool and step by step guide to the public comment section.

2. Importance – I chose to help on this unique collaboration because it was ultimately centered on climate justice. The Justice40 Initiative is an important commitment towards environmental justice. Indigenous people have always been at the fore front of climate justice principles and need further representation.

3. It is hard to quantify exactly. It is hard to measure the reach social media has but it was posted and readily available. The current administration has extended the date for comments and more feedback on the revised version. This helped allow more time to share across businesses and communities.

4. This project was a strategic collaboration stemming from the Build Back Better infrastructure legislation that was passed by the Biden Administration. In essence. Justice40 sought to make sure that 40% of all federal investments, including infrastructure, would be directed toward historically marginalized communities.

5. I played the role of Manager in this project. I helped contract with Native Advisory to ensure a deliverable and oversaw their progress. I also helped bring in NDN Collective’s Climate Justice campaign to collaborate and brainstorm different ideas. I reviewed, commented, and helped draft and rewrite actual text but did not assist with any of the graphics or day to day work.