We are working towards a world where everyone breathes clean air. To achieve this mission, we must address the unequal impacts of air pollution and amplify the voices of those disproportionately affected. In our role as a grant-making organisation, we are committed to ensuring that our work is informed by the experiences of those most affected by air pollution. We are equally committed to becoming a more equitable, diverse and inclusive organisation.
What equity, diversity and inclusion means for us
- Equity for Clean Air Fund is a world where everyone – no matter who or where they are – breathes clean air. In our grant making, projects and programmes, we work to achieve equitable outcomes by understanding the disproportionate impacts of air pollution on marginalised people, designing and delivering equitable solutions, and enabling voices of under-represented groups to be heard. In our organisation, we work to promote equity by ensuring that everyone involved in our work is treated fairly and has fair access to opportunities, regardless of who they are.
- Diversity at Clean Air Fund means ensuring the presence of people with a wide range of identities, backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences within the clean air movement and our team. We recognise and value these differences and believe that building a representative clean air movement and diverse staff team are crucial to tackling air pollution effectively.
- Inclusion at Clean Air Fund is the active involvement of, and respect for, all individuals and groups, regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, religion, nationality, class, age, sexual orientation, ability or disability, background, identity, or status in both our work and our environment. In our grant making, projects and programmes, we work to actively engage communities disproportionately affected by air pollution and to incorporate different perspectives into decision-making processes. In our working environment, we work to promote a sense of belonging for all. We believe that inclusion strengthens our impact by ensuring that a diverse range of people committed to tackling air pollution are able to contribute fully.
How we work to embed EDI
Our commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion is reflected in how we work to:
- Understand and demonstrate disparities in local levels and impacts of air pollution. This data is vital to support advocacy for, and the design of, policies and measures that reach everyone.
- Direct funds and opportunities to participate in global and national clean air advocacy, research and action, to organisations led by and focused on people disproportionately harmed by air pollution. A more representative, diverse field of clean air practitioners will build a stronger foundation for lasting clean air action.
- Ensure that:
– the health and economic benefits of clean air policies and measures are shared fairly,
– the costs are not disproportionately borne by those less able to afford them,
– the perspectives of groups disproportionately harmed by air pollution are included in policy development.
This will lead to policies and measures that make a real and positive difference to those most affected by air pollution.
- Strengthen and support grassroots organizations and movements working for clean air. Including the voices and experiences of affected groups and communities strengthens the clean air movement.
- Ensure that people with a range of perspectives, backgrounds, and identities thrive in our own team. This makes our work more impactful and relevant.
We know that equity, diversity and inclusion at Clean Air Fund are not static issues and more needs to be done to embed them within our work. We commit to learning from those within and outside of our organisation, regularly monitoring our progress, and reviewing whether our approach is moving us towards a world where everyone – no matter who or where they are – breathes clean air.
