Author: Jone De Roode Jauregi (Page 8 of 11)

Sustainability Month 2022: a true celebration

March 14, 2022 / Jone De Roode Jauregi

What a month! Throughout February, we welcomed hundreds of people to more than 20 social and educational events focused on taking action around the Sustainable Development Goals. Organised by students, staff members, and alumni from across disciplines, this month was a true celebration of the breadth of sustainability and the King’s community’s involvement in it.

We learned to reflect on our stories in the climate and nature crisis and got inspired to take action in the events on volunteering, recycled glass, plant-based diets, and greener ways to grow your veg. We learned how we might address the climate crisis from a policy perspective, what digital start-ups can do to advance the SDGs, and what some of the main inequality issues are in South Korea. The interconnectedness of environmental and social sustainability was highlighted during the panel for climate justice and the event on the climate crisis and refugees, and we learned how we might go about translating that into education. The Shots for Hope exhibition and the Visions for the Future workshop series helped us to stay hopeful in the face of the climate crisis.

The month brought people together socially in events such as the sustainability quiz night, stitch and pitch, and the show the love campaign, as well as professionally in the interdisciplinary sustainability research forum and the London Student Sustainability Conference. The events on careers in sustainability helped students explore the breadth of what this means for their future.

If you missed an event, you can find the event recordings here. Not all recordings have been uploaded yet, but we aim to do so as soon as possible. We will also be posting event summaries and reflections on our blog over the next few weeks, so keep an eye out for those. If you have any feedback you would like to share, please fill out this feedback form. If you would like to write a blog post on an event you organised or attended, feel free to get in touch.

International Women’s Day 2022: Women, climate change, and ecofeminism

March 8, 2022 / Jone De Roode Jauregi

The facts are clear: women and girls are disproportionately affected by the impacts of climate change. This vulnerability has several social, economic and cultural causes, including the fact that the majority of people living in poverty are women, and they are often the ones responsible for putting food and water on the table which is becoming increasingly difficult due to climate change.

However, on this day celebrating the achievements of women, it is important to highlight how women are simultaneously at the forefront of global sustainable development. Women need to be at the heart of climate action, because “women possess unique knowledge and experience, particularly at the local level, their inclusion in decision-making processes is critical to effective climate action” (UN Women, 2022). Studies have shown that women’s participation both at the local level and in national parliaments leads to better outcomes for both people and planet.

“Without gender equality today, a sustainable future, and an equal future, remains beyond our reach” (UN, 2022). Why is this so important? Let’s explore ecofeminism for some potential answers.

Ecofeminism

First of all, what is ecofeminism? It is a social movement bringing together feminism and environmentalism, arguing that the domination of women and the degradation of the environment have the same root causes: patriarchy and capitalism (Buckingham, 2015). The key word in ecofeminism is domination. According to Vandana Shiva, development and globalisation are a continuation of our obsession with domination of the ‘other’, whether this is nature, women, indigenous peoples, or subordinate classes (Clark, 2012).

Therefore, “any strategy to address one must take into account its impact on the other so that women’s equality should not be achieved at the expense of worsening the environment, and neither should environmental improvements be gained at the expense of women” (Buckingham, 2015). For solutions to be impactful they have to address both feminism and environmentalism and this can only be meaningfully done by reversing current values to prioritise care and cooperation over more aggressive and dominating behaviours.

An inspiring example: Mariama Sonko

Mariama Sonko leads the ecofeminist movement Nous Sommes la Solution (NSS) meaning “we are the solution”, which brings together more than 500 rural women’s associations in Senegal, Ghana, Burkina Faso, the Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Guinea and Mali to promote sustainable agroecology and fight large-scale industrial farming. What ecofeminism means to her? “The respect for all that we have around us.” Doesn’t sound like a too difficult ask to me.

Check out Women4Climate: an initiative aiming to empower and inspire the next generation of women climate leaders.

Get involved in International Women’s Day (IWD) and Women’s History Month at King’s. Check out the events KCLSU is organising throughout the month here, from panel events and movie nights to leadership masterclasses about challenging misogyny and being an ally to women. The chaplaincy is also organising an event to watch and discuss the movie Stranger/Sister. Explore King’s Global Institute for Women’s Leadership and their upcoming events here. Find out more about King’s dedicated Equality, Diversity and Inclusion team, the staff gender equality network Elevate, and KCLSU’s Women’s Network.

At King’s, we are slowly moving in the right direction, but there is of course more to do. In 2021, King’s Gender Pay Gap was 14.8%, down from 17.1% the year before. Read the news article on King’s 2021 Gender and Ethnicity Pay Gaps figures here, and while you are at it, check out how King’s has been awarded the Workplace Equality Index Award in recognition of its commitment to LGBTQ+ inclusion at work.

What do students think about energy at King’s?

March 7, 2022 / Jone De Roode Jauregi

This guest blog comes courtesy of Marco Hacon, the Energy Team’s Sustainability Champion Assistant.

This week I decided to look at an energy issue that’s a bit closer to home; what do students think about energy at King’s? Well, full transparency, I asked a small group of friends what they thought. If I’ve understood my Professor in practising social research, this means that I’ve chosen to use a convenient sampling method. Apparently, this is the worst choice and will be the least representative of the wider King’s. So take these answers with a pinch of salt. Bear in mind that this group is entirely composed of people taking a Master’s degree in Environment, Politics, and Development with most of them only having been at King’s for a few months. Here’s what we spoke about:

What do you think is the biggest consumer of energy at King’s?

A mix of answers on this one. With half of the people saying their guess would be heating and air conditioning and the other half hazarding tech.

The real answer – a mix of both. While it’s difficult to know exactly, the energy team outlined that heating, cooling, and ventilation are likely to be the biggest source. But, to be clear, this is for specialist equipment such as MRI scanners and the pumps used to move water around the buildings and creates a comfortable environment for students and staff. Rest easy that your tuition fees aren’t being spent on secret saunas.

What do you think the mix of renewable and non-renewable energy is at King’s?

Another mix of answers here. Half think that there is a heavy weighting towards non-renewable energy, in the grounds of 70 – 90%. But, the other half had heard that a fair amount of renewable energy was used, particularly from wind farms.

The truth? A bit more nuanced (as ever). All the electricity that King’s purchases directly is from renewable sources, with the wind playing a role. But, all gas used on campus is non-renewable.

Do you think King’s should use renewable energy even if it costs more? Why?

Finally, a consensus. Yes! Apparently, people who take an environmental degree are keen on renewable energy. Who would have guessed?

The reasons? Various.

The overwhelmingly popular reason is that as a world-recognised institution it has a responsibility to be innovative and promote these types of sustainable technologies. Also, it has a duty to represent the views and values of the students and academics through its practices. Finally, it will be more economic in the long term.

Do you think that students should contribute to decision making with regard to energy source and consumption?

Another consensus – we’re on a roll. Yes!

Again, a few reasons. To paraphrase:

Input from students should be sought, particularly as a large number of students have expertise in this area. And, for those that don’t, it will provide a good outlet to get involved in environmental issues. Ultimately, a great way for the university to reflect the views and attitudes of the student body.

As it stands, energy is currently procured through a Power Purchase Agreement which was agreed upon by a mix of stakeholders in the university. Primarily from the Energy Risk Management Committee with input from the Energy Manager.

Photo of Marco Hacon Marco Hacon is currently studying for a Master’s degree in Environment, Politics and Development here at King’s. Before this, he worked in a few start-ups and scale-up companies with social purposes, where he gained a basic understanding of sustainability. He is a strong believer in a just and equitable clean energy transition. He is excited to write about this as well as more King’s-related energy topics for the team’s blog. He also wants to help develop toolbox talks for King’s staff and teams that centre on how to use energy sustainably.

Fairtrade Fortnight & an opportunity to become a Student Auditor for the Fairtrade University & College Award!

March 3, 2022 / Jone De Roode Jauregi

Each year in late February and early March, we celebrate Fairtrade Fortnight at King’s. The fortnight is organised by the Fairtrade Foundation to raise awareness of Fairtrade products and the issues facing farmers around the world. This year’s theme is “Choose the world you want”, and it is organised around an online festival highlighting the links between Fairtrade and solutions to the climate crisis.

The climate crisis is one of the biggest threats to the livelihoods of millions of small-scale farmers around the world, yet they have done the least to cause it. They face a number of climate-related threats such as more volatile seasons, floods and droughts, increased plant diseases and loss of fertile land. Many Fairtrade crops, such as coffee, are extremely vulnerable to changes in temperature, which means climate change is a significant concern for many farmers. Choosing Fairtrade products can support farmers facing the climate crisis by bringing farmers together into cooperatives, paying a minimum price, and paying the Fairtrade Premium on top of this. This means that farmers can prepare for disasters, invest in diversifying their crops for climate adaptation, and invest in sustainable farming practices.

King’s has been supporting Fairtrade for many years and has been a Fairtrade University since 2017. We are now part of the new Fairtrade University award which is run in partnership between the Fairtrade Foundation and Students Organising for Sustainability UK (SOS-UK), and our Fairtrade Policy commits us to embedding Fairtrade throughout King’s. The coffee, tea and hot chocolate we serve at King’s and KCLSU are Fairtrade, and you will see many other Fairtrade products – from fruit juice and chocolate to fruits and nuts – at our outlets. We have also shifted to using Fairtrade ingredients in our kitchens, so baked goods made in-house meet our ambition of serving fairly traded and sustainable food.

This Fairtrade Fortnight, we held and supported two events on Fairtrade:

On Monday, the 28th of February, the Fairtrade Universities Networking Group held an event with Bismark Kpabitey, a cocoa farmer from Ghana. After studying for his Bachelor of Business Administration Human Resource Management, he returned to farming and started his own cocoa farm in 2017. He is a member of the Kuapa Kokoo Farmers Union, who co-own Divine Chocolate, and shared his experience of cocoa farming, his role as a lead trainer for dynamic agroforestry, and his experience of attending COP26.
On Tuesday, the 1st of March, we held an event on embedding Fairtrade into organisations, featuring our Operations Sustainability Manager Nicola Hogan, Co-CEO of Tierra Foods Marcela Flores, and Andy Ashcroft from Kool Skools. Nicola, Marcela and Andy shared their experiences of working on Fairtrade issues, from finding suppliers and factories that can supply products to engaging students and customers.

In addition to this, this year’s Pancake Day fell within Fairtrade Fortnight. To celebrate this, King’s Food offered a special Fairtrade caramelized banana pancake at their outlets – and they looked delicious!

If you would like to get involved in Fairtrade at King’s, there are plenty of opportunities to do so. You can find out more about our Fairtrade plans and actions on the King’s website, or join the Fairtrade and Sustainable Food Steering Group which oversees many of our Fairtrade initiatives. If you are interested in researching Fairtrade, or even doing your dissertation on it, we have a list of potential dissertation topics on our website – including Fairtrade, trade justice, and ethical consumption.

You can also get involved in our Fairtrade University Award by applying to audit King’s at our upcoming Fairtrade University Audit in May. You can find some information on our Fairtrade webpage, or view the role description here. To apply, please fill out this form by the 20th March 2022.

And remember, all coffee at King’s Food is Fairtrade – so if you use the King’s Move app, you can support Fairtrade by being active and using your reward points to get Fairtrade hot drinks!

Sustainability Month: Week 5

February 28, 2022 / Jone De Roode Jauregi

Sustainability Month is drawing to an end, so make sure to make most of these last few exciting events!

Check out the events taking place this and next week:*

Monday 28th	13:00 – 14:00	Proudly Lunch & Learn: Creating sex, gender and biology (LGBTQ+ History Month)	This event will uncover the processes by which understandings of sex, gender and biology are constructed through investigating the relationship between what we deem ‘normal’ and ‘natural’.
Monday 28th	16:00 – 17:00	Meet the Farmer – Bismark Kpabitey (Fairtrade Fortnight)	Meet Bismark, a cocoa farmer from the Kuapa Kokoo Farmers Union in Ghana, to learn about his life and the faces behind the Fairtrade work.
Tuesday 1st	12:00 – 13:00	Embedding Fairtrade within an Organisation	Find out what an exciting career lays ahead of you should you choose sustainable and ethical companies. Hear about the challenges and rewards of embedding Fairtrade in the HE and private sector and supply chains.
Wednesday 2nd	13:00 – 14:00	Global Health and Climate Change (Sustainability Seminar Series)	Is climate change the greatest global health threat facing the world in the 21st century? Join Professor Paul Ekins as he explores “the 2021 report of the Lancet Countdown on health and climate change: code red for a healthy future”.
	14:00 – 15:30	Poetry Lunch & Do Session – International Women’s Day (online and in person)	Have you got a vision for a more equal world? Would you like to unleash your creative side? This International Women’s Day we are looking to collect your ideas of how things would be different in a more equal world.
	18:00 – 19:30	Mind the (Finance) Gap – Mitigation & Adaptation Finance (organised by Imperial and Oxford)	Expert panellists will share their insights on topics such as scaling up sustainable finance for the transition to net-zero, managing risks and developing the necessary skills and technology at this inter-university event.
Thursday 3rd	11:00 – 14:00	Cycling in London	Swing by the Bush House Courtyard for free bike health checks, advice and small fixes, as well as all the information you need including locating bike lockers on campus, the TfL cycle safety pages, cycle buddy schemes and the KCL Cycling Club.
Friday 4th	9:30 – 11:00	The World We Want to Create – A Vision for the Future	What positive world could we create if more people addressed the climate emergency? This new, fortnightly interactive event series focuses on the possibilities of a better world to motivate climate action.
Friday 4th	17:45 – 19:15	Book Event with Paul Mendez – Author of “Rainbow Milk” (LGBTQ+ History Month)	The LGBT+ Book Club invites Paul Mendez to discuss his queer novel “Rainbow Milk” which follows nineteen-year-old Jesse McCarthy as he grapples with his racial and sexual identities against the backdrop of his Jehovah’s Witness upbringing.
Monday 7th	16:00 – 18:00	Inequality in South Korea and Squid Game	This event will focus on four main issues in Korea: migrant labour and racism, labour relations and capitalism, North Korean defector, and gender Inequality and its non-awareness and invisibility. These topics feature dominantly in the popular Netflix Series “Squid Game”.
Tuesday 8th	12:00 – 13:00	International Women’s Day	Elevate (King’s Staff Gender Equality Network) and the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Team are planning events for International Women’s Day including a poetry recital. Register your interest here to stay in the loop.

* Please note some events were postponed due to the strikes. You can find the most recent updates here.

Sustainability Month: Week 4

February 21, 2022 / Jone De Roode Jauregi

Time is flying by this Sustainability Month!

Sustainability Month is a collaboration between King’s and KCLSU that offers all those involved an opportunity to learn more about sustainability topics, collaborate and connect with others from across King’s and #TakeAction on the climate crisis.

Check out the events taking place this week (21st to 25th of February)*

Monday	11:00 – 12:00	Stitch and Pitch	Join this new creativity and ideas session with your stitching project, or come to learn a new skill. This session’s discussion topic: SDG 11 Sustainable Cities and Communities.
Monday	14:00 – 15:00	QCGBF Virtual Seminar Series – The Macroeconomic Cost of Climate Volatility (by QCGBF)	The Qatar Centre for Global Banking & Finance welcomes Haroon Mumtaz from Queen Mary University of London and Piergiorgio Alessandri from the Bank of Italy to discuss the impact of climate volatility on economic growth.
Tuesday	12:00 – 13:00	Sustainability meetup (Bush House Activity Room F, 8th floor SE wing)	Meet students and societies involved in sustainability and find out how the King’s Sustainability Team can support you with promotions, support for events, and funding. Email Tasnia if you have any questions.
	14:00 – 16:00	Achieving Education for Sustainable Development – A Panel Event	Have you ever wondered what Education for Sustainable Development is and how we can incorporate it? This panel will explore how we can achieve an educational practice that encourages change in knowledge, skills, values and attitudes, to enable a more sustainable and just society for all.
	18:00 – 19:00	How to break into sustainability – a guide for an impactful career	This event will provide students with insight into sustainable careers through 3 guest speakers with different backgrounds in sustainability.
Wednesday	14:00 – 16:00	Fair Energy Forum	In this workshop, you will learn about the issues within the energy sector and the causes and consequences of the current energy emergency. You will brainstorm solutions, redesign policies and contribute to challenging injustice through community organising.
Thursday	12:00 – 13:00	LGBTQ+ Allyship Leadership Class (LGBTQ+ History Month)	To mark LGBTQ+ History Month, KCLSU is offering a Leadership Class helping you understand and learn how to practice allyship with the LGBTQ+ community.
	12:30 – 17:30	London Student Sustainability Conference	Join this inter-university, student-led conference to broaden your knowledge of the challenges and solutions to today’s most critical issues; network with students, academics and professionals from universities across London; and gain inspiration for your own research or dissertation projects.
	15:00 – 16:30	Digital Sustainability – How any start-up with an online presence can deliver on the UN Sustainable Development Goals	Emissions from digital industries match those of aviation and are growing. This event will explore how start-up founders with digital products and services can, and must, act on sustainability.
Friday	11:00 – 12:00	LGBTQ+ Inclusivity in STEM (and beyond) (LGBTQ+ History Month)	This session will discuss findings from recent surveys of LGBTQ+ individuals working in STEM, and ways in which everyone can help make our university a diverse and welcoming place.
Friday	13:00 – 14:00	Lunch & Learn – Service at King’s & Sustainability	Come along to this interactive session to discover how you can take action by volunteering for the SDGs and find out about the new and exciting volunteering service.

*Please note there might be changes due to the strikes. You can find the most recent updates here.

More things to check out throughout the month:

Visit our Shots for Hope exhibition in The Exchange, Bush House between 2 February and 3 March. The exhibition features photos submitted by King’s students and staff that inspired hope.
This month coincides with LGBTQ+ History Month – make sure to get involved in that too.
Join the King’s Move challenge: get active by switching up your typical commute for something more active this February.

All registration is done via Eventbrite. Don’t forget to follow us on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook for updates and discussion!

LGBTQ+ History Month in full swing

February 17, 2022 / Jone De Roode Jauregi

LGBTQ+ History Month is a month-long annual celebration of lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, and non-binary history, including the history of LGBTQ+ rights and related civil rights movements. In the United Kingdom it is celebrated in February each year, to coincide with the 2003 abolition of Section 28 which prohibited the “promotion of homosexuality by local authorities”.

Make sure you check out the following resources:

What’s happening: LGBTQ+ History Month 2022 (events)
KCLSU LGBT+ History Month (events)
Report shows the experiences of LGBTQ+ ethnic minorities in the UK (article)
LGBTQ+ History Month Reflections from Sarah Guerra (blog post)

Relevant groups:

Proudly King’s (the LGBTQ+ staff network)
KCL LGBT+ Society (for students)
KCLSU LGBT+ Network

Sustainability Month: Week 3

February 14, 2022 / Jone De Roode Jauregi

Sustainability Month is already in its third week!

Check out the events taking place this week (14th to 18th of February)*

Monday	15:30 – 17:00	The World We Want to Create – A Vision for the Future	What positive world could we create if more people addressed the climate emergency? This new, fortnightly interactive event series focuses on the possibilities of a better world to motivate climate action.
Tuesday	18:30 – 19:30	Diet and Sustainability – how to eat to fight climate change (CANCELLED)	This event will discuss the close link between diet and sustainability, focusing on the benefits of a plant-based diet and its implications for sustainable food systems and the environment.
Wednesday	13:00 – 14:00	Proudly King’s History Month Quiz! Lunchtime social (LGBTQ+)	This LGBTQ+ lunchtime quiz covers trailblazers, pop culture and more. Fun AND educational? Sign up.
	18:00 – 21:00	Seminars on environmental education debate strategies to teach for a sustainable future (Brazil Week)	Specialists from the UK and Brazil will lead roundtables to discuss environmental education and practical approaches to implementing it (day 1).
	18:00 – 20:00	Climate, environment and security in the Amazon rainforest (Brazil Week)	This panel aims to present multidimensional perspectives to sustainability policies, international cooperation, national security, and sovereignty in the Amazon region.
Thursday	18:00 – 21:00	Seminars on environmental education debate strategies to teach for a sustainable future (Brazil Week)	Specialists from the UK and Brazil will lead roundtables to discuss environmental education and practical approaches to implementing it (day 2).
Thursday	18:30 – 19:30	The Climate Crisis and Refugees	This event will educate King’s students and staff on migrant rights, and examine the links between climate change and migration.
Friday	17:00 – 18:30	Amazon deforestation in the context of international relations of Brazil (Brazil Week)	Join forest engineer Virgilio Viana for this lecture on the deforestation of the Amazon and its effects on international relations in Brazil.
Friday	18:00 – 19:30	Careers in Sustainability Q&A Panel (w/ KCL Geography Society)	This event will explore environmental, economic and social careers in sustainability, and discuss networking opportunities that exist for students.

*Please note there have been some changes due to the strikes. You can find the most recent updates here.

More things to check out throughout the month:

Visit our Shots for Hope exhibition in The Exchange, Bush House between 2 February and 3 March. The exhibition features photos submitted by King’s students and staff that inspired hope.
This month coincides with LGBTQ+ History Month – make sure to get involved in that too.
Join the King’s Move challenge: get active by switching up your typical commute for something more active this February.

All registration is done via Eventbrite. Don’t forget to follow us on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook for updates and discussion!

Sustainability Month: Week 2

February 7, 2022 / Jone De Roode Jauregi

Sustainability Month is in full swing!

Check out the events taking place this week (7th to 11th of February):

Monday	18:30 – 20:00	Addressing the Climate Crises from a Policy Perspective	This event will increase awareness and understanding of how we can address climate issues through policy innovation.
Tuesday	10:00 – 11:00	King’s Climate Action Network Plenary	This plenary will offer an update on climate action progress at King’s and a discussion of some important opportunities and challenges.
	13:00 – 15:00	Panel for Climate Justice	This event aims to promote inclusion in the climate movement and avoid narratives of exclusion, which are frequently promoted by dominant climate movements.
	14:00 – 16:00	Show the Love at Denmark Hill	Attendees will participate in the Show The Love climate awareness campaign, which encourages gentle activism.
Wednesday	11:00 – 13:00	Show the Love at Waterloo	Attendees will participate in the Show The Love climate awareness campaign, which encourages gentle activism.
Wednesday	13:00 – 14:30	Against Gender Violence – Self-Defence and Taekwondo (CANCELLED)	In this event, a Korean martial art and Taekwondo professional will teach the importance of self-defence and demonstrate key moves.
Thursday	11:00 – 14:00	SDG Curriculum Mapping Training w/ SOS-UK	Are you interested in sustainable education and want to build some skills? Receive training from SOS-UK to help map King’s modules alongside the Sustainable Development Goals.
Thursday	14:00 – 16:00	Show the Love at Guy’s	Attendees will participate in the Show The Love climate awareness campaign, which encourages gentle activism.
Friday	12:00 – 12:45	No Dig – A Greener Easier way to Grow your veg	Interested in growing your own fruit and vegetables? Then this session will provide you with practical advice to do so in a more sustainable and less work-intensive way.
Friday	14:00 – 16:00	Show the Love at Strand	Attendees will participate in the Show The Love climate awareness campaign, which encourages gentle activism.

Throughout the month:

Visit our Shots for Hope exhibition in The Exchange, Bush House between 2 February and 3 March. The exhibition features photos submitted by Kings students and staff that inspired hope.
King’s Move challenge: get active by switching up your typical commute for something more active this February.
LGBTQ+ History Month is also taking place in February: a month-long annual celebration of lesbian, gay, bisexual trans, and non-binary history, including the history of LGBTQ+ rights and related civil rights movements. We have included these events in the overview above.

We are excited to see you at the events! Any questions, don’t hesitate to get in touch with the team at sustainability@kcl.ac.uk.

LGBTQ+ History Month

February 4, 2022 / Jone De Roode Jauregi

This blog post was adapted from a post that Josh Pullen wrote last year, who at that time was the co-chair of Proudly King’s and Waste to Resource Project Coordinator in the Sustainability Team.

February marks LGBTQ+ History Month alongside King’s celebrating Sustainability Month. Environmentalism has always been a core issue of the LGBTQ+ community since the inception of the now-iconic rainbow flag. Each colour represents a different part of the LGBTQ+ experience, and green is for nature.

A study done in 2018 found that LGB people were twice as likely to join environmentalist, anti-war and anti-corporate movements. As a social justice movement, the queer community has a keen awareness of issues outside the progressing of sexual and gender identity and has found intersectional links with the Black Lives Matter movement, Occupy Wall Street and the environmentalist movement. Examples of this can even be found within King’s itself with many active Sustainability Champions members being part of Proudly King’s, the LGBTQ+ staff network.

With growing support for ethical and sustainable business practices, the link between progressive environmental issues and the LGBTQ+ movement grows stronger as people understand that fair treatment of the environment means fair treatment of people.