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Climate change is one of the most pressing challenges of our time, exacerbating existing inequalities and disproportionately affecting vulnerable communities around the world. In the
fight for climate justice, technology emerges as a powerful tool to address environmental disparities and promote equity while advancing sustainability goals.

Empowering Communities: Technology has the potential to empower communities to take action on climate change and advocate for their rights. Digital platforms and mobile applications enable information sharing, community organizing, and grassroots mobilization, empowering individuals to participate in decision-making processes and demand accountability from governments and corporations. By providing access to information, resources, and support networks, technology can amplify the voices of marginalized communities and ensure that their perspectives are heard in climate policy discussions. At its most basic (and most important), technology and tools are humanity’s means of externalizing cognitive processes. Climate change is an existential problem that will require significant cognitive load.
Promoting Resilience: Climate change disproportionately impacts marginalized communities, exacerbating existing social, economic, and environmental vulnerabilities. However, technology can play a crucial role in building resilience and adapting to climate impacts. From early warning systems and disaster preparedness tools to climate-smart agriculture and sustainable energy solutions, technology offers innovative approaches to strengthen community resilience and reduce vulnerability to climate-related hazards. By leveraging technology, communities can better anticipate, prepare for, and respond to climate risks, ensuring that no one is left behind in the face of environmental challenges.
Driving Transformative Change: Technology drives transformative change by catalyzing innovation, fostering collaboration, and scaling up solutions to address climate change and promote social justice. From renewable energy technologies and energy-efficient infrastructure to carbon capture and storage solutions, technological innovations offer pathways to decarbonize economies and transition to a more sustainable and equitable future. By investing in research, development, and deployment of clean technologies, governments, businesses, and civil society can accelerate the transition to a low-carbon economy and create new opportunities for economic growth, job
creation, and social development.

In the pursuit of climate justice, technology emerges as a critical enabler of equity, resilience, and sustainability. By empowering communities, promoting resilience, and driving
transformative change, technology offers promising solutions to address environmental disparities and advance social justice. However, realizing the full potential of technology
requires collective action, investment, and commitment from governments, businesses, civil society, and the global community. Together, we can harness the power of technology to build
a more just, inclusive, and sustainable world for present and future generations.

Our Climate Justice Conference will significantly contribute to advancing climate justice by providing a platform for diverse stakeholders to come together, exchange ideas, share
experiences, and catalyze action towards addressing the intersecting challenges of climate change and social injustice. Here’s why such a conference is crucial:

1. Raise Awareness and Build Understanding: this conference, dedicated to climate justice, can raise awareness about the disproportionate impacts of climate change on marginalized
   communities and vulnerable populations. By highlighting the connections between social inequality, environmental degradation, and climate change, the conference can foster a deeper understanding of the root causes and systemic injustices that exacerbate climate vulnerabilities.
2. Empower Communities: Our climate justice conference will provide an opportunity for impacted communities to amplify their voices, share their stories, and advocate for their rights. By centering the voices and experiences of frontline communities, indigenous peoples, women, youth, and other marginalized groups, the conference can empower communities to participate in decision-making processes, shape climate policies, and demand equitable solutions that prioritize their needs and priorities.
3. Promote Intersectionality: Climate justice recognizes that climate change intersects with other forms of oppression and discrimination, including race, gender, class, ethnicity, and nationality. This conference on climate justice can promote intersectional approaches that address the interconnected nature of social and environmental injustices. By fostering dialogue and collaboration across diverse sectors and movements, the conference can promote solidarity and collective action towards building more inclusive and equitable societies.

4. Share Best Practices and Solutions: Our climate justice conference will provide a platform for sharing best practices, innovative solutions, and successful strategies for addressing climate vulnerabilities and promoting social resilience. By showcasing successful case studies, pilot projects, and community-led initiatives, the conference can inspire action and replication of proven approaches in different contexts. Participants can learn from each other’s experiences, identify opportunities for collaboration, and leverage collective knowledge to drive positive change.
5. Mobilize Resources and Support: With all our participants, this conference can mobilize resources, support, and commitments from governments, businesses, philanthropic
   organizations, and civil society actors to invest in climate resilience, adaptation, and mitigation efforts that prioritize social justice. By showcasing the economic, social, and environmental benefits of investing in climate justice initiatives, the conference can encourage increased funding, partnerships, and collaboration to scale up impactful interventions and address systemic barriers to progress.
6. Influence Policy and Decision-Making: We aim for our conference to influence policy and decision-making at local, national, and international levels by providing evidence-based
   research, policy recommendations, and advocacy tools to policymakers, legislators, and government officials. By convening experts, policymakers, and stakeholders, the conference
   can facilitate dialogue, consensus-building, and policy innovation on key issues related to climate justice, such as just transition, climate finance, environmental justice, and human
   rights.

The CJ Con, 2024, will serve as a catalyst for advancing climate justice by raising awareness, empowering communities, promoting intersectionality, sharing best practices, mobilizing
resources, and influencing policy and decision-making. By bringing together diverse stakeholders in a collaborative and inclusive forum, the conference can contribute to building a
more just, equitable, and sustainable future for all.

Michael has served 14 years in the nonprofit industry. He holds a PhD in Anthropology and is passionate about the environment and mental health. In his free time, he enjoys reading, traveling, surfing and making mosaics out of recycled material (michaelbernsart.com).

Here’s more from Michael about why he’s a part of California Greenworks:

I grew up in the Santa Monica mountains of Los Angeles, where I ran cross country from an early age. Oak savannas and the grassy hills were always my happy place.  As I got older, I began to surf and began to notice how everything, and I mean everything, funnels into the bay of LA. After a storm, we were warned not to surf for at least 48 hours due to the increase in contaminants.  This really hit home when I saw all the trash, litter, diapers and dead possums in the water. 

CGW’s drive towards climate equity keeps me passionate. As a secular Jew from Los Angeles, the concept of social justice was constantly discussed in my family and community. I love that I am able to learn about the specific environmental aspects of social justice; and, I feel honored that CGW provides me with opportunities to correct the glaring injustices of the world.

I hope to create an impact at CGW by following the mantra of scalability.  The world won’t be saved in one day, but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t try. I hope to create more research and insights into the correlation between mental health and the environment. I hope to create opportunities of redressing historical environmental injustices. I hope to leave the world a better place than how I found it. I am an asset to the mission because of my training and passion towards research: I like reading and I like learning! I can also bridge seemingly disparate parts into a whole. I will continue to contribute to CGW through my passion, research skills, unique insights and perseverance.

It is no simple mission we set out on 20 years ago, when California Greenworks moved from idea to reality. Yet, it is the simple things over time that have left an impression.

As a founder, I, alongside my good friend Nancy, was baffled at the urban blight that plagued the inner city. Yet, motivated by an inner passion for green spaces and equal rights for disadvantaged communities – we testified against the litter in our oceans and streets, the environmental inequities that faced the world, a community filled with systems of injustice … we started California Greenworks. 

We took on our mission as protecting the planet from these systems of injustice: not solely for the sake of the planet, but, importantly, for the sake of our fellow citizens. 

This first step was two decades ago. 

One of the most important lessons we have learned is scalability. We do not – and in fact, cannot – solve every issue wholly and miraculously. One tree can make a difference. One community clean up can create positive outcomes. One student’s life impacted can make a difference.

For example, I remember a student participating in our youth education program, and he told me this program gave him his first opportunity to see the ocean. It really struck me how simple things like a visit to the beach may not be simple to others. This scenario is one among the long list of burdens of climate injustice.

While every one act makes a difference, the fact of scalability is one we must address our current climate with now. The world is on a path towards calamity. Since an ecosystem is, by definition, about connections and systems, an often overlooked connection within environmentalism is the social justice aspect. 

Today, in America, there are systems in place that pave the way towards calamity. Institutions designed to protect us, instead commit murder. When the simple utterance of Black Lives Matter creates anger and fear, this is a symptom of the calamitous path. 

Throughout the history of the United States, people of color have been targeted and attacked for being people of color. This system has plagued these populations in marginalized communities, disproportionately impacted by issues of climate change – among other challenges. Since these atrocities are systemic, the solutions must also be systemic. 

We cannot solve everything at once, but we can create means of redemption. If you are concerned with the foreboding environment, we remind you that the environment can only be saved when our systems of injustice are footnotes in history. As a scalable remedy, we invite everyone to say the names of the most recent victims of this system: Alonzo Bagley, Tyre Nichols, Keenan Anderson, Eric Holmes, Ki’Azia Miller, Eric Allen … the list is tremendous. Through remembrance we can be motivated towards action. Through one single action, we can be motivated to take the next step and create more action.

Now we must march forward together, tackling issues of climate inequity, climate change and planet earth sustainability. We have to take a more proactive position, and get in control of our environment and that means finding ways to reduce fossil fuels and be more responsive to the needs of our climate. 

There are great places in our city that we can enjoy. For example, Kenneth Hahn Park is among my favorite places to visit – it’s close to me, and it’s improved quite considerably over the years. This is proof that, working together, we can create positive change and restore our environment.

I look forward to meeting more community members and working alongside you to create this change, for the next 20 years and beyond. 

Celebrating 20 Years in Service

Our team at California Greenworks is excited to celebrate its 20th anniversary in 2023. We’d love you to join us this year in our mission to create a more equitable and green community. Check out our upcoming CELA Awards ceremony, where you can meet environment leaders honored for their impact, and be inspired to take environmental action. 

LEARN MORE AND BUY TICKETS HERE