Case Studies - The Solutions Project

For many frontline organizations — and the communities they partner with — working at the intersections of climate and environmental justice, immigrant justice, racial justice, and economic justice has been core to their approach for years, and in many cases decades.

We hope that this collection of case studies provides a closer look at how communities are meeting the climate crisis with distinct cultural knowledge and in solidarity with other communities to create the future we all want for our families.

100% for 100%: Climate Narrative & Movement Building

Our Focus

In 2020, The Solutions Project teamed up with Climate Access to understand our role in shaping the future. We focused on:

How have we successfully influenced climate policy?
What have we accomplished in partnership with frontline communities?
Where could we make improvements to our approach?

And, the BIG question: Is our “100% for 100%” message inspiring people from all walks of life to join the movement to address climate change?

Case Study Highlights

There is no ONE solution to the climate crisis. The shift to 100% renewable energy for 100% of people — our “100% for 100%” message — requires the contributions of many. It’s why we focus on partnering with community-based organizations and cultural influencers from all backgrounds. The case study highlights the following:

Our influence on state and local level policymakers.
Our work with frontline communities and influencers in the clean energy space.
Our successes and challenges in messaging the “100% for 100%” goal with our partners.

The study strengthened our commitment to racial equity and environmental sustainability. It tells the story of how we’ve popularized the 100% renewable energy goal. It reinforces our commitment to amplifying organizations led by Black, Indigenous, and other people of color (BIPOC), who are predominantly women.

Lessons Learned

Set a bold, yet achievable, vision

“100% for 100%”. There is power in its simplicity. We need swift, aggressive action. However, our messaging remains positive, hopeful. We understand the need is great. And, we believe we can meet that need. The study affirms our ability to reach our goal.

Center frontline communities

Equity. We collaborate with frontline organizations led, primarily, by people of color. Our partnerships ensure our “100% renewable energy for 100% of the people” message reaches communities most impacted by climate change— even those who don’t know they are climate advocates in the making. We believe the goal of “100% for 100%” is a path toward stronger, healthier, and more resilient communities.

Group of happy people with fist raised in the air

Scaling Up Community Resilience

Climate Change is More Than an Environmental Problem

To APEN and its 800 members, climate change is not only an environmental problem — it’s a social, political and economic problem rooted in an extractive economy that has concentrated poverty and pollution in working class communities of color. And it creates an opportunity for APEN to work closely with other People of Color-led organizations to redefine and reimagine environmental justice. We hope that this case study provides a closer look at the work happening at the intersection of climate change and migration, and that this extraordinary organization inspires you to ask questions, learn more, and get involved with your philanthropy in helping to strengthen the organizations and collaborations across the migrant and climate justice movements.

Several people around the truck of a large tree.

Transforming Narratives About Climate Migration

A Clear Mission

Founded in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, the Gulf Coast Center for Law & Policy (GCCLP) has a clear mission: to advance structural shifts toward climate justice and ecological equity in communities of color on the frontline of climate change. All of GCCLP’s work is critical, and impressive. But the aspect of their work that is especially remarkable – and pathbreaking – is their narrative development around climate and migration. The reality is that immigrants and refugees can go to where they can afford to go, which is often a Black space, or a poor space, and then there’s fighting over resources. How do we shift communities’ mindsets about scarcity? It isn’t going to help to say, ‘We have more jobs.’ The problem is a perception of scarcity, and a perception of domination. — Colette Pichon Battle – Founder and Executive Director, GCCLP

The problem is a perception of scarcity and a perception of domination.
Colette Pichon Battle – Founder and Executive Director, GCCLP

We hope that this case study provides a closer look at the work happening at the intersection of climate change and migration, and that this extraordinary organization inspires you to ask questions, learn more, and get involved with your philanthropy in helping to strengthen the organizations and collaborations across the migrant and climate justice movements.