Who we are
Oregon Just Transition Alliance is a movement of communities facing climate change, environmental racism, and economic exploitation. We unite over two dozen rural, coastal, and urban communities who experience climate change first and worst.
We’re BIPOC led and rooted in frontline leadership, using the principles of a Just Transition to move from harmful, extractive systems to ones that are fair, sustainable, and regenerative.
Transition is inevitable, but justice is not. We exist to support the vision of our members who are most impacted by climate change and to help bring a just future to life.
The principles of a Just Transition
A Just Transition is about moving from a harmful, extractive economy to one that gives more than it takes, heals more than it harms, and allows people and the land to thrive. Built on profit and exploitation, our current system takes more from the planet than it can replace, causing harm to communities and the land. This kind of economy cannot last forever, and it’s up to us to create something better. Transition is inevitable. Justice is not.
How we began
Oregon Just Transition Alliance was founded by OPAL Environmental Justice Oregon in 2017 to build a powerful movement for a Just Transition led by frontline communities in Oregon.
Over the next three years, we convened the first-ever Just Transition Retreat and facilitated webinars and retreats with frontline-led community organizations to build a shared analysis of the climate crisis and principles of a Just Transition.
The 2017 People’s Climate March, where OJTA first launched as a program of OPAL Environmental Justice Oregon.
OUR HISTORY
As part of OPAL Environmental Justice, we developed a first draft of the Oregon Green New Deal in 2019. To gather input from frontline communities, we created the Frontline Organizers Rising cohort to facilitated a listening tour across the state. In it, frontline communities envisioned a just future, addressed climate concerns, and contributed ideas to the final draft. Their insights led to the current Oregon Green New Deal we use to center our priorities.
OJTA’s work became so large and vibrant that it grew from OPAL into an independent statewide alliance in August of 2020. Unfortunately, Oregon faced numerous challenges that year, including impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and climate crisis, which we are still feeling today. In response to these challenges, the OJTA Steering Committee endorsed their first joint campaign as an alliance around energy democracy, an important principle of a Just Transition.
Later named the Oregon Clean Energy Opportunity campaign, it aimed to lower energy costs, improve home conditions for low-income families, and generate quality jobs in clean energy projects. The first campaign led by frontline communities, it resulted in the passage of three groundbreaking laws: 100% Clean Energy for All, Energy Affordability, and the Healthy Homes Grant Program.
From our inception to our role in shaping climate legislation, Oregon Just Transition Alliance proves that frontline-led movements have the power to build the new. As we navigate the ongoing climate crisis, OJTA will continue to amplify frontline voices and work toward a more just and sustainable future for all. To explore all of our work since the inaugural campaign, visit the Our Work section of our website.
OJTA members and partners at our 2023 member retreat in Eagle Creek, Oregon.
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