Recap of AAPI Climate Justice Convening in Los Angeles
LOS ANGELES — AAPI Victory Alliance just wrapped up its inaugural climate justice covening in Los Angeles, Calif with Charming Evelyn from Sierra Club LA as keynote speaker. The first of its kind conference brought together local leaders from across the country and created an opportunity for connection and collaboration among AAPI activists and advocates, while uplifting the voices of Native Hawiians, Pacific Islanders and other indigenous communities who have long sounded the alarm on climate change.
From AAPI Victory Alliance Executive Director Varun Nikore:
“The main takeaway from this first event, in a series of AAPI-focused climate justice activations, is that we now have the foundation of a strong national and local coalition who are ready to fight for, and deliver on, the progress we need to make to safeguard our planet and our democracy. Missing voices from the Asian American, Pacific Islander, and Native Hawaiian communities in the fight for climate justice means critical conversations and decisions lack the nuance and perspective in determining the most effective solutions. Our movement must do better to fill in these gaps in the bedrock of climate justice—and our organization is stepping up and leading the way to ensure it happens."
Read more about the conference from The Los Angeles Daily News: Hit hard by climate change, Asians and Pacific Islanders grapple with solutions
Partial Highlights from Day One Include:
From the Keynote Speaker: “This first of its kind AAPI Victory Alliance Climate Justice Convening seeks to address the concerns of climate and socio-eco injustices happening in and around AAPI communities. The majority of POC consider climate change to be the most defining issue of our generation, yet the voices of AAPI people are missing from the conversation, at the grassroots, local, state and Federal level. This convening seeks out answers and a path forward to engage, build, educate and amplify these whispers into stronger voices so they may become roars.” — Charming Evelyn, Sierra Club LA
From the Fireside Chat: “Justice for Whom: Uplifting Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Voices:” “[The] elements that are needed to bridge that gap and barrier when it comes to climate justice is acknowledgment…acknowledging that our BIPOC communities are being impacted the most…it’s going to be really hard to fight the crisis without racial justice. If you cannot acknowledge racial justice, you cannot actually fight for climate justice. The two go hand in hand.” — Nile Bunger, AZ AANHPI For Equity.
For questions and press inquiries regarding the event, please contact Erika Gulija at erika@firesidecampaigns.com.
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