ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE
The Environmental Justice Initiative at As You Sow® aims to identify the elements that perpetuate environmental racism and develop collaborative strategies to disrupt patterns that lock inequity in place. The Environmental Justice Initiative engages directly with environmental justice advocates and amplifies their narratives during our corporate engagements.
In 2021, the Racial Justice Initiative at As You Sow incorporated four key performance indicators related to environmental justice into its Racial Justice Scorecards. The addition of environmental justice into our racial justice framework spurred an increase of corporate engagements and shareholder resolutions related to this vital issue. Our Environmental Justice work has been operating under the Racial Justice Initiative since 2021, becoming an independent issue area in early 2024.
View our Racial Justice Scorecard Data Visualization Tool
Community and Corporate Engagement for Environmental Justice
Addressing and ending systemic and environmental racism requires understanding the underlying causes and institutions contributing to its creation and perpetuation. For example, “Sacrifice zones are commonly characterized as communities in proximity to pollution produced by intensive and concentrated industry. Due to redlining, low property values, and other social factors, these communities have historically consisted of low income and/or minority populations.” [1]
The Environmental Justice Initiative focuses on outreach and coalition building with grassroots environmental justice organizations and impacted communities across the United States, with a focus on sacrifice zones. These organizations, coalitions, and individuals have long led the charge to challenge corporations over their harmful actions which exacerbate racial, health, and economic disparities. Our team forms respectful, in-depth partnerships which allow As You Sow to support community goals and organizations’ missions, with a long-term goal of using this approach to reduce systemic harm overall.
Our corporate environmental justice strategy centers on engaging with corporate management through shareholder advocacy, framing conversations with data-backed community narratives. We encourage companies to adopt an environmental justice risk management lens to assist in mitigating material business risks and potential damage to brand reputation associated with environmental injustices.
View our Environmental Justice Case Studies