AfroFutures

By Nana Boakye

How Built By Us is Celebrating Black History Month

Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow. The important thing is not to stop questioning.

- Albert Einstein

October is Black History Month in the UK, a month of celebration of the continued achievements and contributions of Black people of African and Caribbean descent, to the well-being of all. 

Throughout the month of October, Built By Us will be showcasing and celebrating role models making an impact globally and locally in the climate crisis. We believe in a “world built by all,  for all” and along with more diverse voices informing the design of the built environment, it’s essential to bring often unheard voices to address Climate Justice.

“You cannot have climate justice without racial justice. It isn’t justice if it doesn’t include everyone.”

- Vanessa Nakate

Introducing AfroFutures

There are many notable individuals in the Built Environment and beyond making a difference on the sustainability agenda. One of these is the young climate activist, Vanessa Nakate, who was famously cropped out of a photo after participating in a news conference at the World Economic Forum with four white activists, including the Swedish teenager Greta Thunberg. 

The #AfroFutures campaign will highlight the diverse and positive work BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and People of Colour) people in the UK and around the world are doing to create a better and sustainable world for all. We will highlight and celebrate the remarkable achievements of an array of inspiring BIPOC role models of sustainability who have played a major part in developing solutions and challenging the status quo.

“Sustainability means meeting our own needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. It also shares concerns for social equity and economic development.” (https://www.mcgill.ca/sustainability/files/sustainability/what-is-sustainability.pdf)

Disproportionate Impact 

The Climate Crisis affects everyone and we are all responsible for making a positive change. We can implement sustainability in our everyday activities and behaviours. Unfortunately, the Climate debate is not a level playing field, eradicating voices of the BIPOC and the less wealthy and yet it is these groups which are left vulnerable and exposed to the harsh effects of Climate change. It is imperative that all of us are able to contribute and participate in the debate regardless of our gender, age, economic status and location. 

Research by Oxfam shows that the world’s richest 10% of people cause 50% of emissions. This group also claims over half of the world’s wealth, and most live in the so-called “developed” world. The world’s poorest 50% of people contribute approximately 10% of global emissions and receive about 8% of global income.

At the same time, the sixth poorest country in the world, Mozambique, shoulders the burden of over $3.2 billion in loss and damage following two unprecedented cyclones in 2019. According to Civil Society Review, the global bill for damage related to climate change is likely to hit $300-700 billion by 2030. (https://www.greenpeace.org.uk/news/climate-change-inequality-climate-justice/)

This campaign is vital in discarding any ambiguity that the Climate Crisis affects only one set of people, it reflects diverse communities realities and how individuals have channeled their experiences and expertise into strategies and solutions for dealing with the Climate Crisis. It will also shed light on how we can make changes for sustainable living through the examples shared.

Get involved

This year’s Black History Month 2021 campaign slogan is ‘Proud to Be…’ encouraging all Black and Brown people, especially children, to be proud of their African or Caribbean roots.

We want to spread awareness and to inspire all, and applaud the individuals’ contributions. Follow us on Instagram for more details! Check out the work and information on the amazing role models and their innovative ways of addressing social and environmental justice, for current and future generations.