Anthropocene Alliance

Anthropocene Alliance is the nation’s largest coalition of frontline communities fighting for climate and environmental justice. It consists of more than 100 member-communities in 35 U.S. states and territories impacted by flooding, toxic waste, wildfires, drought, and heat. We provide support and training to community leaders, and connect them to government agencies and nonprofit programs that provide additional services.
Because these leaders have direct experience with environmental hazards, they are often area experts as well as possessing resilience and creativity. They are essential partners in the search for practical and policy solutions to our most pressing, environmental challenges.

We achieve our mission by:

1. Directly partnering with those most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change and environmental abuse, and amplifying their voices locally, regionally and nationally.

2. Providing resources, funding and services to help local, resident-led groups mitigate and adapt to the impacts of climate change.

3. Supporting federal and state policies that protect the environment and reduce greenhouse gases.

Anthropocene Alliance was launched by the British environmentalist Harriet Festing who has 25 years' experience managing award winning food and sustainability programs within government, non-profit and academic sectors in the U.S. and U.K., and the American professor Stephen F. Eisenman, a widely known writer, critic, curator and activist who has campaigned against U.S. sanctioned torture, long-term solitary confinement, animal abuse and environmental damage. A2’s staff and Board of Directors includes distinguished scholars, organizers, activists, scientists, engineers, artists and designers.

2022 was a remarkable year for environmental justice. It wasn’t just because of the big increase in federal funding, but because so many people in the government and nonprofit sectors worked hard to direct the new money to communities who need it most. Anthropocene Alliance and its partners were among them.

At the start of the year, it seemed the barriers to that distribution would be insurmountable. Many community-based organizations, including some of our members, lack the resources necessary to secure and manage federal funds. That means grant writing experience, communication technology, scientific expertise, and financial management skills. To fill these gaps, A2 established our Frontline 360° service, which comprises a roster of pro bono experts ready to support justice communities when they need it. (We think it is the first such multi-partner, service for environmental justice communities ever!) “With a little help from our friends” — Environmental Protection Network, Thriving Earth Exchange, and Center for Applied Environmental Science — we achieved a lot.

1. We helped 18 A2 members submit a total of 15 applications to the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation worth over $8 million. (Three were collaborations.) Eight of these 15 proposals were successful, for a batting average of .533! This yielded $3.7 million in grants for green infrastructure and climate migration. Another $2 million of federal funding proposals on behalf of 10 A2 members is pending.

2. In addition to helping A2 members prepare their own grants applications, we also acted as a sub-granter. In 2022, we awarded $1 million in sub grants to our members.

3. We increased A2 membership to 140, 84% of whom represent low-income, Black, Latino, Indigenous and other marginalized communities. 73% are led by women.

4. Since our founding in 2017, 88% of our member-communities (122) have received pro bono technical support or funding, adding up to $26 million. The funds have come from 26 different sources, some small and some large. For example, we distributed dozens of $4000 community-organizing grants, and helped Rosewood Strong (Horry County, SC) access $13 million to buy-out 60 flooded homes.

5. Many of our members have received significant media coverage as a result of A2 referrals. This year, stories about our members appeared in The Hill, The Guardian, Grist, ABC News, The New York Times, E&E News, The Washington Post, Earth Island Journal, Counterpunch, Mississippi Free Press, CNN, and the popular podcast, America Adapts.