Green 2.0, formerly known as the Green Diversity Initiative, was founded with the intent of advocating for justice, equity, inclusion, and diversity within organizations in the environmental sector. The organization states that people of color and those marginalized are disproportionately harmed by climate change and that environmental organizations should reflect that disparate impact in leadership and staffing. ^{1 2}

Activities

Research

Green 2.0 launched in 2014 with a research report titled “The State of Diversity in Environmental Organizations.” It has published an annual “Transparency Report” each year since, which highlights demographic gaps in nonprofits, government agencies, and foundations. The reports are summaries of polling information from participating organizations and include tracking of race and ethnic identity, those identifying with gender assigned at birth, gender, sexual orientation, and those disabled of board members, heads of organizations, senior staff, and full-time staff. The polling also tracks non-governmental organizations (NGOs) responses to a policies and practices questionnaire. Its 2024 report showed the first decline in the percentage of staff of color. Some 80 NGOs were asked to participate, but 18 declined to participate but were replaced by voluntary groups, while 48 foundations were asked to participate, of which 32 declined. The organization has plans to create an environmental expert addition to its annual survey. ^{3 4}

Green 2.0 asserts that wage gaps exist for women and people of color and is conducting a pay equity analysis of staff compensation to propose a three-step plan to correct purported inequities. ⁵

Spotlight Organizations

Green 2.0 highlights Green Nations and Pew Charitable Trusts as best-practice organizations in creating a stronger environmental movement. ⁶

Green 2.0 is a co-host with Azul and the Urban Ocean Lab and Aquarium Conservation Partnership of “Upwell: A Wave of Ocean Justice” event based on the claim that ocean resources and policy are inequitable due to racism, colonialism, and industrialization. The event planning committee includes left-of-center groups Center for American Progress (CAP), Earthjustice, Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) and Ocean Defense Initiative. ⁷

Green 2.0’s website hosts a job board for those seeking employment in the climate movement that includes a guide for finding internships and fellowships in the sector as well as a link to organizations that have signed Green 2.0’s pay equity pledge. ⁸

People

As of 2025, Lennox Yearwood Jr. was the board chair of Green 2.0, and Adriane Alicea was its executive director. Alicea’s 2024 salary was $141,742 plus additional compensation of $4,721. ⁹

Yearwood is the founder of Hip Hop Caucus (HHC), the grassroots director for the Hip Hop Summit Action Network, and the architect of controversial recording artist P. Diddy’s “Vote or Die!” campaign in 2004. ¹⁰

Board members of Green 2.0 include Mark Magana, the founding president and CEO of GreenLatinos, Dana Johnson, chief movement advisor at Strategic Movement Collective, and Philippe Cousteau, son of ocean explorer Jaques Cousteau. ¹⁰

Funding

Sierra Club made a $10,000 grant to Green 2.0 in 2021 for “environmental support” while Sierra Club Foundation also granted $10,000 designated for “General support of mission to ensure that the environmental movement is committed to justice, equity, inclusion, and diversity and recognizes the leadership of people of color at every level of the movement.” ^{11 12}

1. “Green 2.0.” Raben. Accessed June 2, 2025. https://www.raben.co/initiatives/green-2-0-2.
2. Green 2.0 (green diversity initiative) | Devex. Accessed June 2, 2025. https://www.devex.com/organizations/green-2-0-green-diversity-initiative-138431
3. “2024 Transparency Report.” Green 2.0, March 25, 2025. https://greentwopointzero.org/transparency-cards/green-2-0-2024-transparency-report/.
4. “Environmental Experts Database.” Green 2.0, April 22, 2025. Accessed June 2, 2025. https://greentwopointzero.org/environmental-experts-database/’.
5. “Pay Equity Pledge.” Green 2.0, March 25, 2025. Accessed June 2, 2025. https://greentwopointzero.org/pay-equity-pledge/.
6. “Spotlight Feature.” Green 2.0, March 1, 2025. Accessed June 2, 2025. https://greentwopointzero.org/spotlight-feature/.
7. “Events.” Green 2.0, June 1, 2025. Accessed June 2, 2025. https://greentwopointzero.org/events/.
8. “Explore Careers at Green 2.0.” Green 2.0, May 28, 2025. Accessed June 2, 2025. https://greentwopointzero.org/careers/.
9. “Green 2.0”. Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax. Form 990. 2024. Part VII Section A., Lines 1, 2.
10. “Our Team.” Green 2.0, April 21, 2025. Accessed June 2, 2025. https://greentwopointzero.org/about/our-team/.
11. “Sierra Club”. Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax. Form 990. 2021. Schedule I, Part II, Line a15.
12. Sierra Club Foundation”. Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax. Form 990. 2021. Schedule I, Part II, Line a11.