Partnership for Southern Equity aims to enact climate justice in the state of Georgia and beyond.

Equity is a way, and not a what. 

Founded in 2008, the Partnership for Southern Equity has carried on this message for the past 16 years.

“The climate emergency that we have created in a world is driven by the need to use our planet for profit, not prioritizing people”, said Sterling Johnson, Just Opportunity portfolio director with the Partnership for Southern Equity. 

Based in Atlanta, the Partnership for Southern Equity is a leading organization rooted in helping marginalized communities achieve equal access to opportunities, resources, and a voice in the decision-making process.

“These issues are historically grounded in the way in which racial injustice is manifested affecting black and brown low-wealth communities,” Johnson said. 

In 2024, the median energy burden of Black households in Atlanta is 33% higher than that of non-Hispanic white households, an issue the Partnership for Southern Equity aims to tackle. 

The Partnership for Southern Equity has four core issue areas to promote equity. 

The four portfolios include economic inclusion work (Just Opportunity), equitable development (Just Growth), health equity expertise (Just Health), and energy equity (Just Energy).

Just Energy raises awareness of the ways that energy consumption highlights unjust practices against the black community. 

“We believe a lot of the movements in climate justice space are grounded in the behaviors of black and brown communities”, Johnson said. “When you think about how the climate justice movement got co-opted, it leaves out the voices of color despite the historical significance.”

The Partnership for Southern Equity emphasizes that everyone can play a positive role in achieving a more equitable planet.

The Partnership For Southern Equity aims to highlight the burden on the black communities and the unequal distribution of these energy resources. 

The organization is dealing with the issues at the surface but taking the extra step, getting to the root of the cause that has led to the median energy burden of low-income households in Atlanta being 3.6 times higher than that of non-low-income households. 

Even for those who don’t experience these same hardships, it’s paramount that you do what you can for the planet.

“We are all walking this path together … everyone has a responsibility within their sphere of influence and a level of agency to help shape the world in what we want it to be,” Johnson said. 

The organization isn’t going away anytime soon. With the treatment of our planet in question, it’s as important as ever to start engaging with these issues. 

“Last year was our hottest year on record, it disproportionately affected communities of color because they are living in older homes that haven’t been properly weatherized, leading to greater energy consumption and higher energy bills,” Johnson said. 

The Partnership For Southern Equity believes leading with courage will go a long way. 

“It’s about doubling down with resources and staying consistent with our mission. We are looking forward to continuing to serve communities around the country to do this work effectively,” Johnson said.