Intersectional sustainability

Addressing inequality through intersectional sustainability and diversity.

Intersectional sustainability is the interaction between gender, race, disability, and other categories of difference in individual lives, and how social practices, institutional arrangements, and cultural ideologies influence the outcomes of these interactions with the practice of sustainability.

The practice of intersectional sustainability can help us to address the root causes of inequality through systemic change, amplify voices of marginalised communities, and encourage solidarity between environmental, social and economic justice movements.

Access to sustainable practices

Not everyone has equal access to the services, facilities, or processes that we put in place to support sustainability behaviours. Just because we provide everyone with the same box to stand on, doesn’t mean everyone can see the game (see the following image). Just because we provide a compost caddy to every household, doesn’t mean every household can use it.

_{Equality vs Equity, Interaction Institute for Social Change, © licensed under CC-BY-SA
Select the image to open in fullscreen}

When adopting a sustainable behaviour, such as beginning composting in an apartment or workplace, it’s important to consider what is really being asked of an individual. When the question is posed, who is really being asked? And what is really being asked of them?

Wheel of privilege

A simple way to understand the societal barriers and context in which we may ask someone to adopt a sustainable action is by using the wheel of privilege. We often design programs from the perspective of our own privileges, or other people with similar privileges (where the closer you are to the centre of the wheel the more likely it is that society is structured to support you). Intersectional sustainability asks us to consider designing projects with the diversity of the human experience in mind and invite everyone to contribute to the sustainability movement.

Please note that the concept of privilege can vary from one country to another, influenced by a range of factors including historical context, culture, social structures, and political systems.

_{Wheel of power/privilege, © licensed under CC BY 4.0
Select the image to open in fullscreen}

Apply lessons from CERES

A true example of intersectional sustainability is the redesign of the community garden project. Make notes of Adrian’s points as he talks about the project in the video, including the 6 years of consultation sessions and the design process. Pay attention to how they listened to people’s reasoning and values to create an accessible community garden.

What did you learn from the inclusive approach at CERES that can inform your sustainability practice? If you are part of a community, work for an organisation, or own a business, what insights have you gained that can help shape your future sustainability plans?