Consulting for People and Planet - Environmental Justice for All
This blog post was written by Nicole Lim and Rose Turner, President and Vice President of Columbia University Earth Institute’s SUMA Net Impact.
In November, Young Professionals in Energy New York City (YPE NYC) partnered with SUMA Net Impact (SUMANI), the graduate chapter of Net Impact affiliated with Columbia University’s Sustainability Management program, to host a panel discussion showcasing prominent consultants who successfully manage projects that combat the negative effects of climate change, better the lives of Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC) groups, and stimulate economic growth. The panel was titled “Consulting for Planet and People - Environmental Justice for All” and had three major themes: 1. Energy, 2. Built Environment, and 3. Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). Speakers included:
Sara Miltenberger, Owner of RSTR Media and Strategy LLC
Marvin Church, Founding Member of Comrie Enterprises
Keith Kinch, Co-Founder and General Manager at BlocPower
Keith started off the discussion by summarizing the conspicuous yet taboo problem we face today: “If you look at where we're trying to lower the most carbon emissions, where COVID-19 has hit the hardest, and where the resources are the weakest - it's all the same communities. It's brown and black communities, communities of color, and low to moderate income communities.” It is no secret that climate change is exacerbating many social issues, but what some people, including sustainability and energy consultants, can fail to realize is that it has a disproportionate impact on communities of color and low-income communities all over the world. Keith noted that many companies tend to focus on mitigating negative environmental impacts and serving their clients without considering how their work affects the people in the environment, especially people in vulnerable communities.
Keith continued to stress that most actors in the decarbonization space try to develop innovative strategies to deploy and scale clean energy technologies or disseminate energy efficiency programs, but fail to engage with all stakeholders and take the time to understand their situations, motivations, and concerns beforehand. Unfortunately, this is partially the reason why many energy projects do not take off or fail, particularly in marginalized BIPOC communities.
Energy and sustainability consultants can drive change by assimilating aspects of equity and diversity into their frameworks and ensuring environmental justice (EJ) for all.
During the panel, the guests stressed the urgent need for EJ and discussed their unique experiences and useful lessons to best mitigate environmental issues while uplifting marginalized communities and making a significant return on investment.
Takeaway #1: Job creation and workforce development are crucial when developing sustainability initiatives in EJ communities. Keith mentioned that "there is currently money, policy, and ‘energy' in place to move a lot of climate change initiatives and clean energy projects forward; but one of the barriers is that there isn't a workforce in place to complete a lot of this work...historically, there are barriers for women and people of color to get into construction.” Most EJ communities suffer from high poverty, pollution, and high unemployment rates; generating more job opportunities and skill training can socioeconomically uplift these communities. Furthermore, Keith presented findings that the HVAC construction workforce is rapidly aging, leaving up to 60% of these jobs vacant within the next 5 years. Who will fill these roles? Keith speculates, “What's the mandate to make sure that the pool of contractors are diverse? What's the mandate for creating some career paths for underemployed or unemployed folks in the communities?” This workforce transition and rejuvenation exudes opportunity to revitalize a core area of energy use across NYC, the United States, and the world.
Takeaway #2: You cannot save the world if you ignore the community in front of you. Thinking about climate change and environmental inequity can be emotionally difficult, and can even lead to feelings of hopelessness and/or burnout. However, Sara reminded us that, "No one is asking anyone to change the world, but you can change your world, your neighbor’s world, your business down the street’s world - don't take that for granted.” Environmental Justice work often contextualizes community problems at a scale that is operable for activists, engineers, and sustainability managers to actually advance change. However, in order to contextualize the problems and advance change in a community, one needs to first engage with the community. Marvin addressed the fact that the average person living paycheck to paycheck, paying rent and running a business does not care about the world flooding in 2030. Marvin said, "How can I help this business or residential buildings or building owners? One, lower the operating costs while improving energy efficiency along the way, and two, create jobs.” All three of the panelists emphasized the need to use local solutions for local problems.
Takeaway #3: Embrace difference, accept accountability, and abolish the notion that communities and places can be disposable. Marvin highlights that “Environmental Justice means equal opportunity for all, but unfortunately there's no equal opportunities for all.” In the United States, wealth, politics, and the ‘Not In My Backyard’ (NIMBY) mentality stratify the experiences of environmental harm. These indicators are used as justification for some places to be environmentally unhealthy. As we continue to fight the climate crisis, we need to remember to embrace all members as valuable and welcome all differences. We need to ensure that our work does not allow for the buying out of responsibility or the destruction of any people to benefit the few.
Takeaway #4: Say NO to new fossil fuel investment. Marvin ended the Q&A session with the student consultants on a note about stranded assets. When new fossil fuel developments are planned through low-income communities, there are repercussions for a minimum of 50 years. Marvin reminded us that while wealthy people and institutions can afford choice in energy investment, many EJ communities are locked into choices they did not make, forced to exist —and in some cases pay off debt— in unhealthy environments. These older technologies will soon rapidly lose value, and the fossil fuel companies are aware of this. Battles against these long-term investments are happening in NYC right now. Activists are standing up to the fossil fuel industry to say no to another 50 years of polluting our communities. Consultants are also needed to work within their firms to reject new fossil fuel projects.
Takeaway #5: Take the ‘S’ in ESG seriously: the bottom line should include all people, always. When consulting for clients on sustainability initiatives, it is important to dig deeper than the surface and address sustainability from all three of the ESG core values (Environmental, Social, and Corporate Governance). Sustainability initiatives lend well to environmental goals and often fulfill governance requirements with ease. It is the social issues that get swept under a rug of American meritocracy and bootstrap mentality. It is the indicators that are not required on a sustainability report (like human rights across the scope of an entire value chain) that make all the difference in EJ communities. Sara encountered this wariness to surpass the status quo with her clients who did not quite understand what sustainability had to do with people. It is clear that we need to have a more holistic view of companies. Sara said, “It's not just about being green. It's about how we can operate in the best way that we can; serve our communities by serving our customers. It is not just a way to make money.”
We urge all new and veteran energy and sustainability consultants to remember these key lessons, holistically consider the triple bottom line, and maximize the net impact of their work on all stakeholders, not just shareholders.
