🟩 Environmental Justice & Community Resilience
A ranked guide to advocacy groups helping communities confront pollution and build climate resilience
The advocacy groups below lead campaigns, provide legal and organizing support, and offer toolkits, training, youth leadership, funding access, and other resources to help activists and communities build more equitable climate resilience.
Environmental justice ensures that no community—especially Black, Indigenous, low-income, or other frontline populations—bears disproportionate environmental burdens or is excluded from decision-making. Community resilience equips those same communities with tools—like planning, infrastructure, and green jobs—to withstand climate impacts and transform systems.
About These Advocacy Group Guides: I’ve created more than 60 issue advocacy guides to help people connect with effective organizations and take meaningful action. If you’re interested in other issues, you can explore them all here: Advocacy Groups by Issue.
Indigenous Environmental Network (IEN)
Native-led coalition defending tribal lands, sovereignty, and biodiversity. IEN organizes frontline campaigns against pipelines and extractive industries, trains Indigenous youth and elders, and advocates for Indigenous rights in national and global climate forums.
Indigenous-led organization building power for climate justice, Land Back, and frontline community resilience. NDN funds local projects, supports direct action, and provides resources for economic transition in Indigenous communities.
Climate Justice Alliance (CJA)
A national coalition of 70+ grassroots groups fighting for a just transition to clean energy. CJA offers campaign toolkits, policy advocacy, and organizing platforms to shift power and resources to frontline communities.
Earthjustice – Healthy Communities Program
The nation’s leading environmental law organization. Earthjustice litigates against polluters, defends clean air and water regulations, and supports community groups.
WE ACT for Environmental Justice
One of the first and most influential U.S. environmental justice organizations, WE ACT pushes for strong federal policies, provides organizing toolkits, and trains community leaders to address environmental health and equity issues.
Sierra Club – Environmental Justice Program
Focuses on equitable clean energy, industrial cleanup, and climate resilience nationwide, with local chapters—including Washington’s—working with frontline communities.
Brooklyn-based but nationally influential, UPROSE models community-led climate adaptation, green job training, and solar development. Its strategies have been replicated nationwide, inspiring resilience work in other frontline communities.
Funds and supports frontline leaders—especially women and people of color—working on clean energy, water justice, and community resilience. Offers grants, storytelling, and public engagement campaigns to shift power to local activists.
Southern Environmental Law Center (SELC)
A powerhouse in environmental justice litigation. With 100+ attorneys, SELC defends communities in the Southeast—winning major coal ash and pipeline cases—and shares legal strategies applicable nationally.
Duwamish River Community Coalition (DRCC)
Seattle-area coalition tackling toxic pollution, flooding, and sea-level rise in historically overburdened neighborhoods. DRCC organizes residents, trains youth leaders, and advocates for equitable green infrastructure.
Union of Concerned Scientists – Center for Science and Democracy
Connects science to environmental justice through reports, community partnerships, and policy advocacy. UCS supports campaigns to reduce air pollution, wildfire smoke exposure, and climate health risks.
Indigenous-led nonprofit combining advocacy and art to defend Indigenous rights, sovereignty, and land protections. Honor the Earth supports grassroots campaigns, raises awareness through media/film, and operates at the intersection of climate justice and decolonization.
A global interfaith coalition mobilizing faith communities for climate and environmental justice. GreenFaith provides training, divestment toolkits, and organized interfaith climate actions—offering spiritually grounded activism for frontline advocacy.
Top Issues in Environmental Justice & Community Resilience
Toxic Pollution & Hazardous Waste: Addressing legacy contamination, industrial toxins, and cleanup in overburdened communities.
Air Quality & Diesel Emissions: Reducing asthma and respiratory illnesses caused by traffic corridors and industrial zones near frontline neighborhoods.
Climate Disaster Preparedness (Flooding, Heat, Wildfire): Building equitable, community-driven infrastructure to withstand climate shocks.
Water Justice & Infrastructure: Ensuring access to clean, affordable drinking water and modern sewage/stormwater systems in neglected areas.
Equitable Clean Energy & Energy Democracy: Expanding rooftop solar, community-owned energy, and affordable energy access for low-income residents.
Indigenous Land Rights & Sovereignty (Land Back): Returning and protecting tribal lands, sacred sites, and stewardship authority.
Green Jobs & Just Transition Economies: Creating local, regenerative economies and workforce pathways as communities move away from fossil fuels.
Transportation Equity: Expanding reliable, clean public transit and electric vehicle infrastructure in underserved neighborhoods.
Youth, BIPOC & Intersectional Leadership: Supporting leadership from those most impacted to guide policy and organizing.
Legal Enforcement & Community Power Building: Strengthening community access to legal tools, technical expertise, and enforcement of environmental laws.
Related Resources
🟩 Energy Conservation & Climate-Smart Energy
A ranked guide to organizations supporting renewable energy, decarbonization, and energy justice.
🟩 Environmental Protection & Climate Action
A ranked guide to groups fighting pollution, defending ecosystems, and promoting climate solutions.