COMMUNITY FIRST, CLIMATE FIRST
DECISION MAKING
Read the letter. Sign the pledge. Make a difference for Southern California.
Community-first, climate-first decisions are based upon the best available data tailored to your own city, neighborhood, and community.
Build community to build climate resilience.
Partner with the earth instead of dominating it.
Prioritize the most vulnerable people, species, and places.
Use the tool / Sign the pledge ↓
Community First, Climate First Decision Making
It’s time to face facts. The world has fundamentally changed: die-offs of multiple species; plastic in our bodies and planet; forever chemicals in the water we drink; mass consumption’s equally massive carbon footprint; invasive species killing already drought-stressed trees; wildfires returning with increased severity, frequency, and intensity; more intense cycles of rain and flooding. And heat. Searing, debilitating heat. Together, these will impact some people, species, and places more than others, worsening existing patterns of harm.
It’s time to change the way we do business.
Project Analysis: How does your project measure up?
Projects change communities: sometimes for the better; sometimes for the worse. How can you tell which is which? To facilitate community-first, climate-first decision-making, this tool presents sixteen project criteria for the analysis of public works and environmental planning projects - sixteen questions to make you consider these projects from a community-first, climate-first perspective.
Community First, Climate First Project Analysis Tool
Create your project analysis by rating each criteria along a sliding 1 - 5 scale, to the best of your ability and knowledge. Project ratings will help you find out how the project can improve. Read More
- Take notes in the spaces below each factor.
- An average rating of below 3 means the project should be improved, reconsidered, changed, or discontinued.
- An average rating of 3 or above means that some aspects a project may be considered socio-ecologically beneficial.
- Consider the detriments of project construction and hidden carbon costs as well as the long-term impacts once projects are complete.
- Each individual question can guide you toward specific areas for improvement.
- Click SKIP QUESTION to exclude from your analysis any criteria you find irrelevant or unclear in your project context.
I. FOUNDATIONAL FRAMEWORKS
First, think about undefined project's foundational frameworks. What ways of thinking inform this project or idea?
Continues a problematic, outdated, or exclusionary system without accounting for climate, community, and environmental concerns.
Creates a different path, vision, and process due to climate, community, and environmental concerns.
The offered solutions tackle the symptoms instead of treating the root cause of the problem.
The offered solutions tackle the problem at the source, rather than only treating symptoms.
Does not value history or consider intergenerational timeframes or long term consequences of decisionmaking and projects on vulnerable communities or ecosystems.
Values history, considers intergenerational timeframes and consequences of decisionmaking. Highest rated projects create short- and long-term benefits.
Does not account for the impact of related or upcoming projects, ignores broader context, and overlooks potential hidden consequences or ripple effects.
Explicitly considers prior and future projects, understands the interconnectedness of decisions, and actively identifies hidden consequences over the long-term.
II. ECOSYSTEMS & HEALTH
Now, we turn to how undefined project relates to ecosystems, biological and human diversity. To be ranked highly, the project must recognize the interdependency of humans with the biosphere.
Predominantly taking from ecological systems. Resource use does not consider impact on communities or the environment. Views open space, working lands, green space and habitat health as expendable resources.
Working in tandem with ecological systems. Resource use is deeply integrated with communities and environment. Values open space, working lands, green space and habitat health as vital to mulit-generational wellbeing.
Emphasizes singular cultures or perspectives at the expense of other people, cultures, or species. Does not value multi-species perspectives or human diversity.
Protects sensitive species, communities, and ecosystems; sees multi-species and human diversity as a strength.
Damages the health of humans.
Supports the health of humans.
Decreases ability of systems, people, and ecosystems to bounce back from stressors, vulnerable to pressure.
Increases ability of systems and people to bounce back from stressors; resilient to pressure.
III. ECONOMICS & SYSTEMS
Next, we look at undefined project's economic objectives and the systems that drive them. Does the project embrace sustainability and resource stewardship over traditional monetary goals that often lead to waste and inequity?
Zero-sum game with clear winners and losers, prioritization of select economic gain despite harm to ecosystems, local economies, and select communities. Continuation of limited constructs such as GDP with emphasis on continuing unquestioned, linear trajectories that value traditional components. Focuses on dependency and global trade.
Non-zero-sum game that creates win-win situations for ecosystems, economy, and community. Inclusive rethinking of economic values and expansion of concepts such as GDP. Emphasis on circularity, donut, regenerative economies that value previously ignored components. Focuses on self-reliance and relocalization.
Project ignores fossil fuel dependence or worsens it.
Project actively works to reduce dependence on fossil fuels and transition away from dirty energy sources.
Generates waste that is then discarded without reference to natural systems and processes, creating problems for human communities and ecosystems.
Creates a closed-loop system where waste is reabsorbed, not expanded, to create benefits for human communities and ecosystems.
Building of surfaces (rooftops and pavement) over large swaths of land where water cannot percolate. Treating water as waste and threat, takes away open space and increases heat.
Maximizes utilization of permeable surfaces, open green spaces, plants that cool. Facilitates water usage, storage, and renewal as opposed to water waste.
IV. EQUITY & JUSTICELast let's examine how undefined project addresses equity and justice. With frontline communities disproportionately affected by climate challenges, it's crucial to center both community and climate.
The project creates disproportionate impacts to already impacted communities and ecosystems, furthering vulnerability.
The project goes out of its way to help members of vulnerable communities and ecosystems, promoting climate resilience and equity.
Technical experts control data, process, and information about local decisions, including financial influences that remain undisclosed. Technical experts do not share raw data or ownership of information.
Community members know where data comes from and have ownership of data produced by and about them. Data, process, and financial exchanges are transparent to communities and constituencies.
Loyalty to outside developers and corporate profit instead of residents. Public input is box checking and does not influence decisionmaking. Undervaluation and harm to unique local ecological resources.
Resident, place-based, and eco-resource loyalty. Recognizes and protects unique local ecological resources. Public comment is a meaningful process that can influence project decisions.
Threat, destruction, or damage to sacred sites, native ecosystems, and landscapes of importance to tribal communities. Exclusion of tribal communities and principles in decisionmaking if relevant.
Protection of sacred sites, native ecosystems, and landscapes of importance to tribal communities. Inclusion of tribal communities and principles in decisionmaking if relevant.