Points of Unity
Below are the ten points of unity that explain why we do our work, and linked here are the Jemez Principles for Democratic Organizing which guide how we do our work.
Below are the ten points of unity that explain why we do our work, and linked here are the Jemez Principles for Democratic Organizing, which guide how we do our work.
1. We seek a just, sustainable, and equitable future for the earth and its people. We believe that all people have a right to live and make a living on a living planet.
2. We recognize climate change represents a serious threat to all, and especially to vulnerable people such as workers, frontline communities, Black, brown, and Indigenous peoples, women, seniors, youth, disabled people, and the poor. Governments at all levels need to act now because a rapidly warming planet puts prosperity out of reach, and the lives and safety of far too many at risk.
3. We understand that unchecked corporate power jeopardizes our future. We are in a period of not just a climate crisis, but our democracy and society at all levels are being attacked at the national, state, and local levels. Billionaires and corporations are destroying our communities — we need to engage across issues, not just in energy and emissions. We support democratic and public control of food and agriculture, energy and utilities, and finance, so that private interests never compromise the health and well-being of workers and our communities. Powerful interests must not be allowed to prevent the voices of those most impacted from driving policy and spending decisions.
4. We can address both the climate crisis and the inequality crisis with the same set of policies. As the impacts of climate change mount, the crises of inequality and democracy will continue to grow.
5. We support rapid movement toward 100% clean, renewable energy. We know what must be done. We have to shift away from extracting and burning fossil fuels and towards a lower-carbon economy, and fast. It is imperative that we recognize and achieve the targets for greenhouse gas emission reduction that climate science requires.
6. Climate protection must serve as a means to greater economic justice and stronger local economies. The jobs created by climate protection must be good jobs that respect workers’ right to organize. Jobs must be open and accessible to those who have been excluded from and discriminated against in the labor force. Likewise, small businesses and local economies should thrive in a new democratic, sustainable economy.
7. Climate protection must serve as a means to challenge environmental and racial injustice, as well as to meet the needs of other vulnerable communities. We prioritize energy-insecure communities on the frontlines of the climate crisis. Fairness and equity mean the burden of policies that are necessary for society, like protecting the climate, shouldn’t be borne by a small minority who happen to be victimized by their side effects.
8. Climate protection must serve as a means to advance Indigenous Sovereignty and uphold treaty rights. Indigenous communities in New York State are on the frontline of direct impacts from climate change, have unique historical and contemporary relationships to the land, and understand best practices for land care. They have also been at the forefront of climate change organizing, from the fight to ban fracking, to movements for fossil fuel divestment, to efforts exposing nuclear power as a false solution, to stopping the expansion of hyperscale data centers. We must ensure our fight for a Just Transition is aligned with Indigenous environmental justice, land justice, and sovereignty, and that we uphold the Treaties that New York State is obligated to.
9. We must ensure economic security is available to all. It is necessary to ensure that workers employed in carbon-intensive industries are guaranteed work in new industries and are provided strong social safety net benefits, including fully-funded retirement plans and free re-training opportunities. Those with barriers to employment, including young people, benefit from career training for a wide range of work opportunities in a clean energy future.
10. We must ensure community participation and oversight in decision-making. To do that, we need resources for, and meaningful participation by the community, labor, environmental justice, environmental, and other constituents. We know that those most impacted are best prepared to identify the real issues, develop solutions, and lead towards a just transition; our work is to ensure that we move towards honoring embodied knowledge held by communities, prioritizing that as guidance in our organizing, and advocating for it to lead the state’s climate efforts.