ClimateVoices Featuring Shaandiin Cedar

In this issue I’m pleased to be talking to Shaandiin Cedar , an Associate at Powerhouse Ventures, member of the ClimateVoice Advisory Board, and a "GreenBiz 30 Under 30" 2022 honoree. Shaandiin is also a tribal member of the Navajo Nation and is an advocate for Indigenous-led climate action.

As we begin 2023, where should our grassroots activism be centered? What are the most powerful and effective pressure points – at the federal, state, local or community levels?

As a first point of order, I’d like to invite our network of corporate leaders, energy, and sustainability practitioners to transform themselves into grassroots activists themselves.?

How? A question I get all the time goes something like, I'm in corporate finance, how do I get involved more in addressing climate change? To that I say, each individual can and should activate their inner circles, resources, and influence in a way that is meaningful and unique to their situation. In doing this, you join a larger global movement of people transforming their personal and professional lives in service of climate action—boom, a baby grassroots activist is born.?

Second, I invite folks to center and amplify climate leaders from marginalized communities, particularly, Native and Indigenous leaders and the extensive knowledge they bring to climate response. As we all continue to explore the linkages between environmental degradation, racism, climate change, and social injustice, centering the voices and strategies of land protectors and Indigenous leaders on the frontlines of climate change is proving advantageous in achieving both climate and social justice success.??

Where should we apply pressure? Where it hurts the most—and I think that’s relative to each person. If you were to twist my arm for a direct answer, I’d say that real change starts at the community level. The collective voice of a community united will always be louder than the red tape or an uninspired law upheld by a sole few.?

Find your community, organize, vote, protest, and target the political pressure points closest to you.

Are we making progress toward environmental justice – and if so, where do you see that progress?

While we still have a long way to go, yes, I see evidence of progress. In Indigenous communities, there are a couple of concepts that have produced environmental justice success stories.?

In our world of renewable energy, critical mineral mining, and infrastructure project development, the concept of free, prior, and informed consent (FPIC) development principles are becoming material to corporate operations. FPIC is a specific set of rights that pertain to Indigenous peoples and is recognized in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. It is a framework in which corporations include Native communities in project development decision-making as powerful stakeholders. Most recently, reinsurer AXIS Capital stated it would refuse to underwrite energy, mining, and other projects that did not have the backing of local Indigenous communities, showing a new industry standard that could dramatically shift power to marginalized communities.

Additionally, I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the “LandBack” movement and its goal to return swaths of land back into tribal ownership and care. Although, it’s more than restoring land deeds to Indigenous communities—“Landback” means land protection, restoring access to sustainable food systems and water, cultural identity revitalization, and tribal sovereignty. In 2019, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change ( IPCC ) recognized that Indigenous rights and climate action are inherently intertwined. In recent years, hundreds of thousands of acres have been returned to Native communities across the U.S. and Canada, a win for natural carbon sinks, biodiversity, and social wellness.?

What is your vision for the role of climate tech as part of a just transition to clean energy?

There is immense opportunity for to lay the groundwork for a more fair, just, and equitable industry-community relationship, one that aims to be as anti-extractive as possible.?

My vision for a just transition includes a replicable playbook in which local communities are treated as true stakeholders, even shareholders, in new project and infrastructure development. The playbook includes training and vocational programs that are easily accessible, labor is hired locally both in the field and in management positions, and a portion of profits flow directly into the community's pockets.???

Without this, climate tech and the clean economy are no better than their predecessors.?

Bonus question: In Big Tech, they call me a “shit stirrer” – and I love that nickname. What’s your moniker?

I love that. I haven’t been around long enough to earn a moniker, but I now hope to achieve something similarly juicy and controversial.?

Resources

• Native Renewables
• Navajo Power
• FPIC Principles
• LandBack Movement

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The opinions and views expressed in this interview are solely those of the individual(s) being interviewed. They may not reflect the views, policies, or positions of ClimateVoice, the employer(s) of the individual(s) being interviewed, nor of any other organizations with which the individual(s) being interviewed are affiliated. This interview is intended for informational purposes only and should not be interpreted as an endorsement or official statement on behalf of such employer(s) or organization(s).