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.

Cover image of case study with people in masks staring at the camera

Defending Justice in a "Climate Refuge City"

Building a Safe Haven

Buffalo is already becoming a “Climate Refuge City.” It is the second-highest most resettled mid-sized city in the U.S. Buffalo is filled with refugees from equatorial countries that have experienced political and economic destabilization that are direct results of climate change. And looking to the future, it could be a safe haven for people migrating from other countries, as well as those moving internally within the United States. There is much work to be done, however, to create the infrastructure and the culture that both invests in existing communities and welcomes an influx of climate-related refugees. This is the work of two central community organizations in Buffalo: PUSH Buffalo and Justice for Migrant Families. Justice for Migrant Families and PUSH Buffalo are at the frontlines of ensuring that Buffalo today, as well as in the years to come, achieves climate 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 these extraordinary organizations 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.

The Human Impact of Climate Change

Inspiration at the intersection of climate change and migration

Farm workers have long borne witness to climate change. Ask a farm worker, especially someone who has toiled in the fields for decades, and they’ll tell you what climate change looks like. Major agricultural regions, from California to Georgia, are now experiencing extreme heat waves with record-high temperatures. With deep roots in the farm worker movement, the UFW Foundation was founded to advocate for policies that protect farm workers, with the goal of providing tools to enforce these policies and support to realize their own agency. The organization engages farm workers in systemic change and empowers them to advocate for more equitable policies. The UFW Foundation looks at the needs of farm workers holistically to determine policies that will protect them and ultimately improve their lives. That’s why their work sits at the intersection of workers’ rights, immigrant justice, racial justice, and climate 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.