Sierra Club's Equity Journey

Photo above from 1915 "Line of Hikers" and Black Lives Matter protest in Washington DC and Arlington, VA on June 6, 2020, following the murder of George Floyd by police.
Photo iteration by Marion Randall Parsons (E.T. Parson’s widow) [#2038] and Javier Sierra

Examining our history, our founders, and our journey toward becoming an anti-racist organization.

For the first part of its existence, the Sierra Club was an exclusive social outings club established to explore, enjoy and protect the Sierra Nevadas. Membership was often denied to people of color. Such harm and discrimination must be openly acknowledged. Sierra Club is committed to being an anti-racist organization. Anti-racism is a key to eliminating polluted sacrifice zones and addressing the climate crisis.

A Timeline of Key Moments In Our Equity Journey

1940s?	First person of color approved for Sierra Club membership (need to confirm).
1964	Grand Canyon Dams stopped; the Sierra Club did not oppose the construction of coal-fired power plants on Navajo lands that would replace power to be generated by the new dams.
1970	Sierra Club promoted the first Earth Day, which led to landmark environmental laws to reduce pollution and protect species.
1976	Inner City Outings was founded; later renamed "Inspiring Connections Outdoors."
1979	City Care Conference in Detroit was held jointly with the National Urban League; local chapters and groups worked on joint projects with local Urban Leagues.
1986	First Person of Color elected to the National Board of Directors.
1987	Sierra Club formed the Native American Sites Committee to advocate for Native American Religious and Historic sites.
1991	Sierra Club formed Ethnic Diversity Task Force (EDTF), provide mini grants to chapters working with people of color leaders.
1993	Sierra Student Coalition founded and Environmental Justice National Policy adopted.
1994	Sierra Club published Unequal Protection: Environmental Justice and Communities of Color, by Robert Bullard.
1996	Sierra Club members rejected efforts to push it to adopt a restrictive immigration policy.
1999	New Environmental Justice Program established in five low-income BIPOC communities.
2002	First Sierra Club Dismantling Racism Training for staff and volunteers.
2005	Military Family Outdoors program launched and Sierra Club Board of Director adopted a Farmworker Rights Policy.
2006	The BlueGreen Alliance (BGA) was founded by Sierra Club and United Steelworkers.
2013	Sierra Club endorsed a "Path to Citizenship" immigration policy.
2014	Sierra Club Board of Directors adopted the Jemez Principles.
2015	Sierra Club Board of Directors adopted a Multi Year Equity, Inclusion and Justice Plan.
2017	Sierra Club published Deeper Shade of Green, an analysis of the Sierra Club’s history on race and environmental movement.
2019	Sierra Club updated the Multi-Year Equity, Inclusion and Justice Plan.
2020	Sierra Club engaged in developing the Equitable and Just National Climate Platform.
2021	Biden signed Justice40 executive order to direct 40 percent of federal climate investment benefits to disadvantaged communities.

John Muir | Photo courtesy of the Library of Congress, LC-B2- 1309-10 [P&P]

Our Founders

John Muir is a symbol of the early conservation movement. The Sierra Club acknowledges his conservation achievements as well as the fact that he used derogatory language about Black Americans and Indigenous people, which has caused much harm.

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Our 45 volunteer-run ICO groups nationwide conduct more than 900 outings for approximately 14,000 participants each year.

Public Lands and Outings

The Sierra Club acknowledges that for the first half of its existence it ignored and excluded Indigenous inhabitants and people of color from its outdoor and advocacy activities. In 1976, the Inner City Outings program, now Inspiring Connections Outdoors, was launched to provide equitable access to nature for children from underserved communities.

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"Defend the Sacred" in protest of the Dakota Access Pipeline | Photo courtesy of Dallas Goldtooth

Indigenous Rights

The Sierra Club promotes and advocates for the rights of Indigenous peoples, supporting their efforts for FPIC (Free Prior Informed Consent), honoring Treaty rights regarding land and water, and increasing access on federal lands for cultural practices and gathering, protecting sacred sites on federal lands.

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Protesting the Marathon Petroleum Corporation in Detroit, Michigan | Photo courtesy of the Sierra Club

Environmental Justice

Earth Day 1970 helped expand the focus of the Sierra Club beyond wilderness, outdoor recreation, and land conservation to also include environmental conditions that affect the health and well being of all people.

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The Trump Administration raised the need for the Sierra Club to support a fair immigration policy. | Photo courtesy of Javier Sierra

Population Control and Immigration

From 1989 -1996 the Sierra Club had a national policy to limit immigration. That policy changed in 1996 to be neutral on limiting immigration and in 2013 the Sierra Club came out in support of a pathway to citizenship.

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Climate Strike, September 20, 2019 in New York City | Photo courtesy of Frances Denny for The Luupe, theluupe.com

Sierra Club Today

The Sierra Club is owning how white supremacy and racism have shaped the founding and history of the Sierra Club and the environmental movement. The Sierra Club is committed to becoming an anti-racist leader and building the type of all-inclusive movement needed to improve global environmental health for all. We acknowledge that we have work to do to become the inclusive and anti-racist organization we want to be.

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Equity Journey

Sierra Club's Equity Journey