Decolonial Environmental Network (DEN)

Decolonial Environmental Network (DEN)

About 

The Decolonial Environmental Network (DEN) was piloted in Fall 2024 with the goal of providing a space on campus for students, faculty, and community members to organize, research, collaborate, and educate within the intersection of decolonization & environmentalism. The program works in collaboration with Project Planet, a 501(c)3 non-profit committed to cultivating climate justice by uplifting Indigenous science globally, unlearning colonial frameworks, and bridging knowledge between frontline voices and decision-makers to reimagine environmental solutions from the roots up.

Mission 

Indigenous, BIPOC, and other historically marginalized voices have been systematically excluded from climate discourse, despite being among the most impacted by climate disasters. These communities are often denied the space to mobilize around their lived experiences and traditional knowledge, creating critical gaps in climate education resources for all. At a university that prides itself on serving a diverse student body, this lack of representation limits our collective capacity to build truly inclusive and effective climate solutions. Thus, the Decolonial Environmental Network (DEN) aims to reimagine a just and sustainable future through the lens of decolonization, environmental justice, and BIPOC experiences.

Program Areas

Education

Mobilization

  • Coalition-building with student leaders, groups, and faculty to learn how we can support and amplify each other’s work

  • Push for the establishment of a robust Social Justice Research Collaboration network connecting faculty and graduate students to undergraduate students around research and community-engaged work in EJ

Community Engagement

  • Organization of retreats, events, workshops, and teach-ins for students, faculty, and the larger Berkeley community

  • Collaborations with on-campus and off-campus organizations related to climate and social justice

Advocacy

  • Cooperation with the UC Libraries (Bancroft + Ethnic Studies) to serve as a physical archival space for the display and preservation of climate justice resources

  • Consolidation of all of the present and past work at Berkeley related to EJ and decolonization

Play slideshow
Past Events

Educational Materials (Coming Soon!)

  • EJ campus map 

    • Highlight campus movements related to racial and climate justice → draw attention to student-led movements and efforts

  • Video spotlights

    • Highlight the work of students and organizations doing EJ work on campus

    • Testimonials of professors, lecturers, researchers involved in EJ work

Ways to Get Involved & Contacts