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Years ago, while working at a government agency, I suggested we examine the equity impacts of a program aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The response? A strange look, as if I’d missed the point entirely—this was about emissions, not equity. Since then, things have improved in many ways. But local governments, states, and other public entities are still struggling to meet their equity and environmental justice goals. The challenge isn't just knowing what to do—it's how to incorporate our ideas into government operations. Community-based organizations (CBOs) continue to push hard for equity to be central to program design and implementation. But their efforts often fall flat, largely because their strategies aren’t grounded in how government works. When CBOs push to include lived experience in programs, it can lead to more friction than progress if they overlook the year-long procurement process required just to hire a facilitation firm.
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