Thursday, July 24, 2014

New Report on Lack of Diversity in Environmental Movement

LACK OF DIVERSITY IN ENVIRONMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS HAS RESULTED IN "GREEN INSIDERS’ CLUB”


Comprehensive Report Examines Why Decades of Promises to Diversify are Falling Short in the Mainstream Environmental Movement

 
 “The State of Diversity in Environmental Organizations: Mainstream NGOs, Foundations & Government Agencies,” 
 
A new report has beeng released that finds that although people of color now account for more than a third of the U.S. population, they have not broken the “green ceiling” in the mainstream environmental movement. These dismal numbers exist despite documented support by people of color for environmental protection, at a higher rate than whites. However, environmental organizations show little interest in improving practices that lead to people of color being grossly underrepresented in their organizations, especially at the executive and board levels.
 
The report, “The State of Diversity in Environmental Organizations: Mainstream NGOs, Foundations & Government Agencies,” is the most comprehensive report on diversity in the mainstream environmental movement. It surveyed 191 environmental non-profits, 74 government environmental agencies, and 28 leading environmental grant making foundations to investigate their gender and racial diversity composition, the majority of which state diversification as a “value.” The study includes confidential interviews of 21 environmental leaders from diverse backgrounds and experience.