2020 has become a reckoning for American culture through the pandemic, the Black Lives Matter movement, the ominous storms in the east and the apocalyptic wildfires of the west. We are inherently linked through our biology, ecology, economy, the legacy of white supremacy and oppression. Now is the time to shake the foundation of how we operate as a society. Systemic racism infiltrates every aspect of who we are and how we interact with each other.

Sustainability centers around leaving the world a better place for the next generation. This implicitly covers all people with no qualifiers. However, sustainability practices have notoriously catered to the wants and needs of the wealthier majority, while excluding the most vulnerable communities by lack of engagement and practice. Sustainability must become synonymous with racial equity.

But how?

First, say the words. "Racial Justice." "Racial Equity." "Discrimination." Get comfortable with being uncomfortable. Denounce white supremacy. And if you don’t think it exists, educate yourself.

Second, ask who is affected and what could go wrong? We need to dismantle the standard paradigm that designs sustainable products and services only for the top 1 percent. "Intent isn’t as important as impact," explain diversity experts Project Inkblot.

Third, act on the input from BIPOC communities. All aspects of sustainability including community development, building design and product engineering require user input.

Talking about racial equity in sustainability is easy, but implementing it requires more than a perspective change. Business leaders, elected officials and educators must commit to a different way of working. From selling green cosmetics in local drugstores to building energy efficient structures in BIPOC neighborhoods, we must intentionally advance racial equity. If we get it right, this new movement for equity in sustainability can snowball by not only providing a "cooling effect" for climate change but also resulting in thriving, healthy, equitable communities.

Read the full article about racial justice within sustainability by Victoria Gilchrist at GreenBiz.