As a new US president takes office, we must strengthen our resolve to realize an equitable and inclusive future for all

The 24-7 news cycle has been swirling over the past two months, attempting to predict, and now reporting on, the implications of the second Trump administration.  

On Monday, Trump was sworn in for the second time as President of the United States of America (US). The world is drastically different from when he was first inaugurated eight years ago. Since January 2017, we saw a “travel ban” in the US focused on majority Muslim countries. There was the global COVID-19 pandemic, the January 6 US Capitol attack, the invasion of Ukraine by Russian forces, the overturning of Roe v. Wade, the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, and climate disaster after climate disaster - most recently, and still ongoing, the wildfires in Los Angeles.  

It wasn’t all bad. Waves of hatred and division, climate disasters and war sparked counter-movements anchored in love and hope. Inspiration came from the Black Lives Matters movement, the strengthening of gay rights, a technological revolution (although the pros and cons of AI are sparking huge debate), progress on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and government initiatives prioritizing social equity and environmental justice, such as Justice40 and the Inflation Reduction Act.  

And although the Trump administration has already begun to back out of climate and energy deals, 350.org emphasizes that “this is not the moment to back down. Our work has just become that much more important. Our movement needs to come together now more than ever to counter the anti-climate agenda and to stand in solidarity with frontline communities.” 

As many organizations and businesses persevere in their work to embed equity and justice at the heart of their climate action strategies, we, at Forum, remain steadfast in our commitment to support companies and communities to accelerate a just and regenerative future. 

In 2022, we created American Climate Futures (ACF), a national program designed to help businesses lead equitable and inclusive responses to the climate crisis. The program helps to prioritize solutions co-created with- and focused on - those most vulnerable to climate change, including frontline workers and historically underserved communities.  

Through ACF, we foster partnerships among values-driven businesses, communities, civil society and policymakers, creating a foundation for systemic transformation. In 2024, we published the Business Guide to Advancing Climate Justice in collaboration with B Lab U.S. & Canada, providing practical tools to help companies build effective partnerships with frontline communities and implement impactful climate justice strategies. 

Worried about political backlash, many companies are now scaling back their diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) policies to align with the Trump administration (President Trump signed multiple executive actions on Monday rescinding DEI initiatives, stating that “the injection of ‘diversity, equity, and inclusion’ (DEI) into our institutions has corrupted them by replacing hard work, merit, and equality with a divisive and dangerous preferential hierarchy”). Meta, Walmart and McDonald’s have stated that they are rolling back DEI goals and will stop using the term altogether (although Walmart and others are facing questions from shareholders about their decision).  

The Harvard Business Review points out that the “obvious route for change is no longer easily accessible,” but DEI and justice work will continue during this time of “closed doors,” even if the language and terminology needs to be altered.  

Public support for equity and inclusion initiatives remains. For example, a global survey, conducted by Nature Climate Change, found that, although 66.2% of the 5,627 adults in 11 countries, across the global north and south, had never heard of climate justice, the “endorsement of climate justice beliefs was widespread (for example, acknowledging the disproportionate impact of climate change on poor people and the underpinning roles of capitalism and colonialism in the climate crisis).” 

As part of our commitment to support businesses continuing to embed equity and justice at the heart of their climate action strategies, we are launching a working group for businesses that will serve as a hub for collaborative action, and a space for peer-to-peer learning.  

This group will bring together internal champions of climate justice with community leaders and others to share ideas, raise questions and concerns, and collectively begin to address systemic barriers to progress on equitable climate solutions, all under Chatham House Rules. By fostering cross-sector engagement, we will support leading brands to turn bold commitments into meaningful, measurable impact. 

Investing in equitable climate solutions allows businesses to mitigate revenue losses from climate risks, protect frontline workers from extreme weather, enhance community well-being and operational resilience and align with environmental, social, and governance (ESG) priorities while safeguarding social license to operate. 

Participants will gain access to practical tools, real-world case studies, and proven frameworks that make it easier to operationalize equity in their climate plans. They will also have opportunities to hear directly from activists on the frontlines of the climate movement about what they, and their communities, need.  

As we embark, collectively, upon another era uncertainty with a new Trump administration, it is imperative for those who plan to continue with DEI, justice, and climate work, even behind “closed doors,” to stick together. Eight years from now, what do we want to look back on and have achieved? I hope we will be proud of our continued response of compassion, solidarity and hope, even in the face of uncertainty and turmoil. 

Email us to get involved with the working group and learn more about our continued efforts to support businesses in embedding equity and justice in their climate action strategies.