Representation |
Greater representation across the environmental sector. |
The Ethnic Minority Environmental Network (EMEN)
is a platform and resource for all ethnic minority voices
to engage in climate change issues and policies
and to develop links with environmental stakeholders.
EMEN is facilitated by CEMVO Scotland which is a national intermediary organisation with the aim of building the capacity of the ethnic minority voluntary sector and its communities.
The climate crisis is not merely a complex environmental and scientific issue but one that with all its magnitude and severity, further exacerbates the already increasing inequalities that affect ethnic minority communities. EMEN works with ethnic minority organisations, communities and individuals to build capacity among these groups to develop a collective voice through raising awareness of climate issues, developing a vision of a low carbon society, and contributing to discussions with decision-makers.
One major achievement was our partnership with Keep Scotland Beautiful to address the lack of any ethnic minority communities in receiving Climate Challenge Funding (CCF). This partnership was delivered by CEMVO with support from EMEN, and resulted in the number of ethnic minority projects funded through CCF going from 0 to over 150, with over £15 million allocated funds.
What we do
ENABLING the ethnic minority community groups and individuals to come together to discuss and raise awareness of climate change issues.
DEVELOPING a collective vision of a low carbon society.
EMPOWERING a collective and coherent ethnic minority voice on climate change, sustainable development, and environmental issues.
ENGAGING in dialogue with key decision-makers at a local and strategic level.
INCREASING ethnic minority groups and individuals’ participation in relevant stakeholder consultations, events and campaigns.
BUILDING leadership and capacity of network members to advocate and campaign for social & environmental justice.
PROVIDING training and self-development opportunities for members, including Climate Changemakers residential, Leadership Development Programme, Campaigning, Activism, and Public Speaking.
Our Mission
We want to ensure that all climate mitigation and adaption efforts are just and representative of the needs and priorities of minority ethnic groups by aiming for:
Capacity |
Build capacity of ethnic minority groups to undertake climate action. |
Vision |
Develop a strong collective voice on the shared vision for an equitable and low carbon society. |
Our Vision
To ensure that the experiences and inequalities felt by minoritized ethnic communities are not further exacerbated by the climate crisis while supporting a human-centred approach towards developing climate mitigation and adaption plans at various levels.
Environment:
We put the environment at the centre of everything we do.
The climate crisis is one of the biggest challenges we face, and we work together to protect the environment’s health because it is inseparable from our lives.
Representation:
We work together with people around the UK to ensure climate justice.
Our approaches to climate change include social, economic, public health, and other adverse impacts on different people.
Community:
We work with diverse communities towards a low carbon society.
Climate change will change the way people live in their built and natural environments. We’re a community, and we’re focused on tackling climate change issues to better our society and our lives.
Meet the Team behind EMEN
Aekus Kamboj
Environmental Projects Coordinator
Satya Dunning
Project Officer: Ethnic Minority Environmental Network
Aekus is a passionate and strategic climate change professional with an experience of leading on campaigning, community engagement and influencing work.
Previously Aekus served as the EMEN Officer with a strong belief in the power of people in creating change and used creativity and innovation to spearhead local and national community engagement initiatives, specialising in working with ethnic-minority communities.
As the Environmental Projects Coordinator, Aekus leads the diverse portfolio of environmental justice projects at CEMVO. Aekus is responsible for the development and growth of new initiatives and projects at CEMVO that address racial gaps in undertaking climate action.
Aekus holds multiple advisory board positions where she provides expertise on environmental justice, namely at People’s Plan for Nature, Green and Global, Treescapes UK and is now supporting the Environmental Rights Centre for Scotland as their Associate. Aekus enjoys public speaking and frequently joins conferences and events across the sector to share knowledge and ideas. You can find Aekus in a local café with a book and a flat white on the weekends.
Dakar born Satya Dunning has a multifaceted and diverse portfolio of skills, experience and knowledge in the creative arts, project coordination and community engagement, nutrition and Nonviolent Communication (NVC).
Previously Climate Justice Project Leader at Interfaith Glasgow, Satya now supports the development of EMEN and its participation in decision making and policy development around climate change. Satya also develops networks and partnership working with environmental / government agencies / forums across Scotland and the UK to address race equality issues.
Thanks to her multicultural and multiracial background, Satya brings her skill and ability to make sense of different contexts and realities, and find common ground from a place of diversity and multiple perspectives. Satya loves forging meaningful genuine connections with people and organisations and building capacity and community. She values the practice of welcoming, compassion, listening, collaboration and developing people’s and organisations’ potential.
Alongside her work at EMEN, Satya also runs her own unique emotional, nutritional and movement literacy programmes infused with a trauma sensitive and feminist approach grounded in the wisdom of the body.
Anand Sajeevan
Project Officer: Energy Saving For All
Anand is passionate about environmental sustainability and believes in the strength of inclusive volunteering as the way to make big changes in the world.
Being involved in environmental activities from a young age in his home country India, he pursued a master’s degree in renewable energy in the UK to expand his knowledge in the field of environmental sustainability. Along with his university-time, Anandvolunteered with the energy-advice charity organisation Changeworks and helped householders bring down their energy use and lead a sustainable life.
At CEMVO, Anand works in the ‘Energy Saving for All’ project (delivered by Changeworks in partnership with CEMVO) which is aimed at providing energy-advice for ethnic minority householders across Scotland. He is involved in outreach activities as well as in organising and delivering energy-advice events and supporting volunteers throughout the project.
Virginia Toyi
Environmental Race Equality Officer
Jacinta Jaylo Barker
Regional Race Equality Officer
Vee is the Race Equality Environmental Officer within REEP, a groundbreaking initiative that supports mainstream environmental organizations in addressing and improving issues related to race equality and representation. This transformative program is generously funded by the Esmee Fairbairn Foundation.
As an Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) professional, Vee offers impactful, customized solutions for creating inclusive work environments across various sectors. With over 20 years of experience in policy, human rights, diversity, equity, inclusion, and community engagement, Vee has forged strong partnerships with public institutions, charities, and governmental bodies to foster inclusion, embrace cultural diversity, and address systemic inequalities.
Throughout Vee’s career, collaborations have spanned diverse sectors, including education, housing, the third sector, the legal sector, and community organizations. Vee’s expertise lies in harnessing individuals’ strengths, fostering innovation, and cultivating effective teamwork. Driven by a profound passion for empowering communities, Vee is particularly focused on supporting women and people with hidden disabilities within marginalized and underrepresented groups.
Jacinta has gained a hands-on experience working with the mass base during her time working with a range of organisations, institutions, and agencies here in Scotland and abroad.
She has worked in the field of anti-discrimination, policy development, homelessness, gender violence, community engagement and development, capacity building, outreach, and advocacy. Jacinta has designed and delivered bespoke trainings on social issues e.g. Gender Violence, D&I, and Race Equality with various orgs. i.e. Fife Social Work Department Senior Managers, Lothian Coalition for Independent Living, Elgin multi-agency staff, to name a few.
Jacinta also delivered bespoke training sessions on DEI and Community Development with the Museum of World Culture in Gothenburg Sweden, Innovative Project in Graz Austria, Unitec Institute of Tech. Aukland NZ, Sud Strumungen Women’s Org. Stuttgart Germany.
Jacinta participated in numerous international trainings, conferences, facilitated workshops on social issues, presented papers on Black Women and Gender Violence, Race, Racism and Anti-Racism, Class and Gender, Employment Rights and Responsibilities, Migration and Immigration and Racial Justice etc.
