CPA-NA Statement on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

CPA-NA does not accept discriminatory behavior on the basis of race, ethnicity, national origin, citizenship status, language, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, age, ability, or socioeconomic status.  Furthermore, relationality and interaction are fundamental to CPA-NA’s initiatives and necessitate an empathic approach. An essential part of empathic relationality is understanding and appreciating all aspects of human diversity. CPA-NA members and affiliates should expect to be in community with colleagues who are different from themselves. CPA-NA members and affiliates relate empathically through differences by respecting each other’s anger and pain in navigating power structures that are upheld by institutions that shape society. 

An empathic approach involves inviting one another to question assumptions or engage in challenging conversations together, which Professor Loretta J. Ross refers to as ‘call-in culture’. Call-in culture and reflexive practice (Lazard & MacAvoy, 2020) involve creating space to examine underlying assumptions which vary across countries, cultures, and generations. Members and affiliates of CPA-NA agree to call each other in and reflexively engage with assumptions and beliefs rooted in intersecting experiences of power, privilege, oppression, and discrimination. CPA-NA members and affiliates agree to support each other as we navigate and challenge our beliefs, opinions, and attitudes in our respective journeys.

Starting Points for Reflection on Disability: Approximately 15% of the global population experiences some form of disability (WHO, 2011), and ableism is deeply embedded in language, behaviors, infrastructure, and institutions worldwide. People with disabilities are disproportionately affected by environmental disasters and climate change due to a lack of accessible infrastructure, emergency services, and inclusive planning. The concept of eco-ableism highlights how mainstream environmental movements often overlook the needs and voices of disabled individuals.  Moreover, the climate crisis exacerbates existing inequalities, including those faced by disabled individuals. During extreme weather events, such as hurricanes or heatwaves, people with disabilities often face additional barriers to safety and recovery. These challenges are compounded by social and economic disadvantages, making it essential to adopt an intersectional approach in understanding climate psychology. Recognizing and addressing the unique vulnerabilities of disabled people in the context of climate change and amplifying disabled voices in environmental movements is not only a matter of justice but also critical for building resilient and inclusive communities.

Starting Points for Reflection on Race: Throughout history and in present day, the social construct of race has been used as a means to separate and dominate people. The global injustices seen in the climate crisis are a legacy of colonial exploitation and extraction. The hierarchies of racial knowledge that support colonialism, slavery, and white supremacy continue to impact our minds and environments today: leading to intergenerational trauma and environmental racism. At CPA-NA, this understanding is essential to our perspective on the climate crisis and shapes our approach to climate psychology. CPA-NA courses, groups, events, and all relational spaces are geared toward making BIPoC members feel safe and valued. CPA-NA acknowledges that white supremacy, structural racism, unconscious biases, and the resulting macro- and micro-aggressions in predominantly white settings often prevent this. Many of us who are white and living in the West may be hesitant to admit we still hold unconscious or conscious racist beliefs. CPA-NA members and affiliates actively work to dismantle this thinking and the racism it produces with the understanding that it is the only way to move beyond our current harmful system of extraction and entitlement. We invite feedback and open dialogue about these difficult issues and are committed to reducing them through consciousness-raising and cultural change throughout the organization.

Starting Points for Reflection on Sexual and Gender Diversity: There are intrinsic connections between queer identities and ecological systems and the climate crisis. Queer ecology challenges heteronormative and cisnormative views of nature, emphasizing the natural diversity and fluidity of identities and relationships found both in human and non-human realms. By disrupting conventional views, queer ecology helps us see the parallels between the struggles of marginalized communities and the fight for environmental justice, fostering a more holistic approach to addressing the climate crisis. Moreover, queer ecology highlights the importance of intersectional approaches in environmental activism. It recognizes that queer populations, especially those at the intersections of other marginalized identities, face unique challenges and violence, both social and environmental. By examining how heteronormative values have shaped our interactions with nature, and by promoting diverse narratives and practices, queer ecology is a lens for deconstructing oppressive systems and aims to build a world where all identities are valued and protected within our environmental efforts.

Starting Points for Reflection on Femininity and Masculinity: Gender inequality persists and harmful binary distinctions between masculinity and femininity affect people of all genders. Women's voices, especially those from the Global South, are often marginalized in policy-making, despite women being more likely to suffer from the ecological and climate crisis's consequences. Concurrently, there is rising acknowledgment of 'petro-masculinity,' a term and construct which highlights how fossil fuel symbols are linked to certain authoritarian and misogynistic identities; and the damaging association of masculinity with extraction and exploitation (Daggett, 2018). CPA-NA members and affiliates must carefully challenge rather than reinforce stereotypes about masculinity, femininity, and ecological identities and behaviors. CPA-NA aims to create spaces where marginalized gender expansive voices are heard, using an intersectional approach that considers gender in addition to other identity markers.

Starting Points for Reflection on Age: CPA-NA acknowledges the intergenerational injustice posed by the climate and ecological crises and the marginalization of young voices in decision-making processes that will shape their future. Given these tensions, it is crucial to be mindful of age-related assumptions. These may manifest through guilt or denial, such as not fully accepting the gravity of the crisis, or through fear and anger seeking to assign blame. Rebuilding and strengthening intergenerational community, support, and respect is a vital aspect of our mission. CPA-NA strives to create spaces that center youth perspectives and offer support tailored to the needs of young people and those who work with them.

References:

Climate Psychology Alliance. (n.d.). Our Values. https://www.climatepsychologyalliance.org/index.php/component/content/article/our-values?catid=12&Itemid=101

Hernandez, I. (2023, June 19). Queer Ecology: identity and the natural world. Queer Brown Vegan. https://queerbrownvegan.com/queer-ecology/

Lazard, L., & McAvoy, J. (2020). Doing reflexivity in psychological research: What’s the point? What’s the practice? Qualitative Research in Psychology, 17(2), 159–177. https://doi.org/10.1080/14780887.2017.1400144

Randall, C. (2022, July 22). Eco ableism and the climate movement. Friends of the Earth Scotland. https://foe.scot/eco-ableism-and-the-climate-movement/

Ross, L. J. (2021, August). Don't call people out -- call them in [Video]. TED Talks. https://www.ted.com/talks/loretta_j_ross_don_t_call_people_out_call_them_in?subtitle=en