Our Commitment to Equity
We are dedicated to developing building policies and business practices that center the needs and experiences of frontline communities, enabling a just and equitable low-carbon future.
How we engage with communities Equitable policymaking at IMT
Why
In both the past and present, building policies, utility decisions, and business practices have marginalized communities of color and low-income communities. Decarbonizing the buildings that we live, work, and play in without diverse community voices prevents equitable solutions that allow everyone to protect their health, build wealth, and enable people to thrive.
What
We are dedicated to developing building policies and business practices that center the needs and experiences of frontline communities, enabling a just and equitable low-carbon future.
How
We strive to reject racism within our organization, our industry, and the environment in which we operate. We commit to clearly understanding the issues we work on and the terminology used by different stakeholders to create informed and intentional solutions. We intend to accomplish this by:
- Using our shared equity principles and values to guide our goals, strategies hiring, training, and ongoing support processes.
- Instilling values of transparency and accountability within the organization, with the understanding that equitable climate solutions are the goal.
- Prioritizing continuous learning amongst IMT staff on our shared participation in unjust systems and co-creating equitable climate solutions.
- Advocating for collaboration between local governments, businesses, and utilities to be a part of these community-centered solutions.
- Elevating solutions proposed by frontline communities, recognizing that those who experience the negative impacts of climate change hold the keys to the solutions.
- Decoding complex policy language and community objectives for all involved stakeholders to ensure that impacts and benefits of a policy are understood by all.
- Using our guiding principles to shape our programs, who we collaborate with, and how we partner with other organizations and companies.
Definitions
Equity
Fair allocation of services and benefits to everyone based on need, including fair treatment, access to these services and benefits and opportunity for advancement for all people, regardless of, but not limited to, their race, ethnicity, class, gender, sexual orientation, education level, and dis/ability.
Frontline Community
Directly and disproportionately impacted communities who are hit first and worst by a problem, have been able to collectively name the ways they are burdened and are organizing solutions together.
