Black Lives Matter Phoenix Metro and Chispa AZ are founding members of the Phx EJ Coalition. Members now also include: Semillas AZ, Trans Queer Pueblo, Black Political Cultivation AZ, Extinction Rebellion Phoenix, and Arizona Asian American Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander for Equity.
The Phoenix Environmental Justice Coalition is a collaborative, non-hierarchical, POC-led space with a focus on tackling the systemic roots of climate injustices that disproportionately affect communities of color and other frontline communities. We are an intersectional group, recognizing that there is no such thing as a single-issue struggle. This space welcomes and places the experiences of BIPOC, LGBTQ+, and otherwise marginalized peoples foremost. This is a collaborative working space that is made to empower and amplify the voices of those that have been historically ignored or silenced, recognizing that those with white and/or class privilege should leverage it to provide resources to frontline communities. We find power in collective community action, not electoralism. We are advocating, educating, healing, honoring whose land we are on, and organizing. We participate in a diverse set of tactics, however, we also set boundaries for ourselves and each other. We are an anti-capitalist group that does not push for market-based solutions or rely on technology or geoengineering to combat the climate crisis, for these solutions will not solve climate injustices. Solidarity not charity- we are not saviors we support each other working directly with those most impacted, not top-down or from afar.
ANTI-PLATFORM
No market-based solutions (such as cap and trade, carbon trading)
System change over individual actions (even though individual action is still important)
We are against the false narrative that Technology + geoengineering will save us from climate change
We are against state violence and imperialism- from the USA military (the single largest consumer of oil) to police who defend oil companies when we try to hold them accountable, we recognize the state’s role in upholding the fossil fuel empire
Between some of the highest levels of air pollution in the country, to one of the first states that is at risk of running out of water- we are educating our communities about what is at stake. We also engage in artistic direct actions to combat the climate crisis. The communities we serve are in constant systematic attacks when it comes to environmental racism from some of the hottest streets in the world to having no food in a diameter of many miles. Our bold goals and strategic plan includes addressing the real quality of life, targeting the environmental racism plaguing Black and Brown communities here in Phoenix. From food deserts, extreme heat, gentrification, poorly funded public transit, to the high rates of asthma and damaging pollution in our neighborhoods. Our ambition is to also include addressing water quality and water conservation or the lack thereof. The wealthy and big corporations in our desert city continue to over consume water as we are running out, leaving Indigenous and POC communities with nothing but dry taps.
There are multiple working groups in the coalition, the one BLM is bottom lining is the Indigenous Solidarity work. Check out that work on this webpage.
To get involved, please use our contact form below.