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Statement on Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Justice

Overview

NE CASC is committed to cultivating a culture of equity, diversity, and inclusion that encourages and supports a community of students, researchers, practitioners, and resource managers in climate adaptation science. We are committed to raising awareness of structural and institutional barriers that have limited equitable access, advancement, research, and engagement in the climate research community. To remove such barriers, we seek to recruit, include, and support voices from underrepresented groups at all levels of climate adaptation science. We believe that inclusion and respect for all voices will improve climate adaptation outcomes by expanding our collective expertise and perspective.

Adapting to climate change will require climate justice. We are committed to listening to, learning from, and elevating leaders from communities disproportionately impacted by climate change. We will achieve this through collaborative research that addresses community needs, mitigates the historical exploitation of culturally significant resources, and assesses differential exposure to rising climate-related risks. We are committed to educating ourselves and our colleagues about climate justice. Together, we will develop new programs and initiatives that leverage opportunities for climate adaptation science to minimize impacts on all people. 

To ensure that climate adaptation science serves the needs of all people, we will welcome partnerships and collaborations with Black, Indigenous, and other communities of color. We recognize that underrepresentation of these and other groups (e.g. people with disabilities, women, LGBTIAQ individuals) is a problem that limits the success of climate adaptation efforts. To support sustainable and resilient natural systems in the face of our changing climate, we must help all people to devise and enact locally appropriate responses.
 

DEI Accountability & Accomplishments by NECASC

  • Applied for and received funding for UMass to participate in the Climate Adaptation Scientists of Tomorrow (CAST) program
    • Program will continue for 2024-2025 with 5 CAST students coming to UMass
    • Mentored four undergraduate students from underrepresented groups in climate adaptation science at UMass (2022-2023)
    • Supported travel to conferences and workshops for NE CASC graduate students from underrepresented groups in science (2023)
  • Supported seven graduate students as DEIJ fellows (2021-2023)
    • Developed professional development opportunities for students of color  (panel discussion, workshops, seminars)
    • Supported seminar on Indigenous Knowledge
    • Developed survey on NE CASC working climate
    • Analyzed survey on NE CASC working climate
    • Conducted research on vulnerability of minority communities to climate change
    • Engaged classrooms of students from underrepresented groups on climate adaptation science and science careers
  • Developed DEIJ working committee
  • Sent 4 students to the 2022 HBCU Climate Conference
     

Future DEI Initiatives 

  • Deepen partnerships with Tribal Nations, and support their adaptation efforts
  • Engage more broadly with community groups and other non-governmental stakeholders 
  • Support priorities identified in the 2023 DEIJ survey (supporting undergraduate students, support peer mentoring)
  • Implement a peer mentoring program

Do you have ideas about how we can better accomplish these stated DEIJ goals? Please reach out to the current chair of the DEI committee (Toni Lyn Morelli, @email).