Keeling Curve

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Project Summary / Description:

Anthropocene Alliance is the largest coalition of environmental justice communities in the U.S. We number 65 grassroots groups in 22 U.S. states plus Puerto Rico and are growing fast. We applaud the Global Warming Mitigation Project for anchoring its quest for climate solutions in the bedrock of equity and justice. That‚ what we do too. 

Funding from the Keeling Curve Prize will allow us to acquire the digital technology we need to help our environmental justice communities raise $20 million within five years to support their essential work of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and protecting residents from climate change disasters.

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In 2019, the Aa Board of Directors unanimously adopted a Justice Statement that outlines our commitment to prioritize low-income as well as Black, Latino, Native American and other underserved communities. That had been our focus since Aa‚ founding, but we realized the need to state it publicly and set ourselves some hard targets. Since then, our commitment and reach has, if anything, grown. We recently expanded our alliance to Puerto Rico and to an exiled Guatemalan (Maya) community in Omaha. 

Research has shown that people with low income or little family wealth, or who come from historically oppressed or marginalized communities, suffer disproportionately from climate change and environmental abuse. They have fewer resources with which to fight back and are more likely than others to be ignored by politicians and decision makers. Anthropocene Alliance partners with these communities to help them get organized, heard, and supported so they can lead the fight against climate change and environmental abuse. 

Our mission is reflected in our board of directors, leadership, fundraising, and communications. We commit to: 

1. Recruit Board members committed to our mission and experienced with the communities we serve. We seek out leaders in business, science, education, and the arts. 

2. Identify, train and support grassroots leaders from low-income, Black, Latino, Native American and other historically oppressed or marginalized communities. 

3. Shift resources and decision-making when possible to the communities we serve. This allows Aa to keep its staff small and direct resources where they are needed most. 

4. Use social and traditional media to amplify the voices of our grassroots leaders. 

At this moment, 80% of our member organizations are led by women, 62% represent low-income, Black, Latinx and Native American communities. Since 2018, our target members have received grants from us (or facilitated by us) in amounts ranging from $300 to $92,000 in support of climate resilience solutions, for a total of $625,000. We expect these funding levels to increase significantly in the near future as our collaborative partnerships are strengthened, and our programming, profile and credibility grows. 

In addition to cash grants, Aa has matched 20 of our groups with pro bono scientists through a partnership with the Thriving Earth Exchange of the America Geophysical Union. Eight have been provided pro bono legal expertise, and three with pro bono green infrastructure planners and engineers. The total value of this pro bono expertise is $631,000. 

By the end of 2021, we expect our alliance coalition to number more than 100, with at least 70% representing priority communities.

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