Inside Sony Music
- Highlighting Our Partners This Earth Day
- Mar 31, 2023
We’re committed to making a positive impact on the environment.
Which is why, in alignment with Sony’s Road to Zero campaign, we have taken a unique approach to address the disparity of climate change and how it disproportionately affects environmentally overburdened communities worldwide.
In 2022, we committed nearly $500,000 to organizations confronting years of underinvestment in historically excluded communities across the U.S., Canada, South Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean.
Below, learn about some of our Global Social Justice Fund partner organizations who are helping communities affected by climate change around the world.
Caribbean Climate Smart Accelerator
Partner Task Force: SMG Latin Iberia
“Our islands are at the forefront of the climate crisis. The Caribbean Climate-Smart Accelerator actively unlocks growth opportunities for organizations specializing in everything from green hydrogen to smart farming. The Accelerator is a driving force in the journey to create the world’s first climate smart zone.”
– Racquel Moses, Chief Executive Officer, Caribbean Climate-Smart Accelerator
Community Foundation of Greater Flint
Partner Task Force: SMG U.S.
“In Flint, our focus has been clean drinking water since the lead-tainted crisis began. Ensuring the healthy future of our local drinking water supports the economic well-being of everyone in our region.”
– Isaiah M. Oliver, President & CEO, Community Foundation of Greater Flint
Partner Task Force: SMG Latin Iberia
“IPLCs (Indigenous People and local communities) have a track record of protecting rainforests. But when people who live in the rainforest lose control over their lands because of discriminatory policies, the rainforest becomes collateral damage. Cool Earth seeks to remedy this by addressing the inequalities that IPLCs face.”
– Isabel Felandro, Acting Head of Global Programmes, Cool Earth
Partner Task Force: SMG U.S.
“Our programs support farmers, promote the launch of new businesses, and advocate for systems change to create a more sustainable and equitable regional food system. Building resilient regional food systems keeps money in our communities, creates jobs, influences land use, reduces pollution through food transport and ensures the viability of socially disadvantaged producers and consumers.”
– Kate Fullam, Executive Director, East End Food Institute
New York City Environmental Justice Alliance
Partner Task Force: SMG U.S.
“While we know climate change affects everyone, its impact will not be evenly felt—particularly for low-income communities of color. NYC-EJA empowers its members to advocate for improved conditions by coordinating campaigns designed to inform policies.”
– Eddie Bautista, Executive Director, New York City Environmental Justice Alliance Inc.
Partner Task Force: SMG U.S.
“The Niles Foundation is addressing underlying inequities that affect communities of color by increasing their access to land, food, clean energy, climate action and agriculture. We’re taking land and reconstructing it into environmentally friendly, green, fruitful, open outdoor community spaces that HEAL underrepresented communities long-term.”
– Shante Walker, CEO & Founder, Niles Foundation
Partner Task Force: SMG Africa
“Climate change most deeply affects those already suffering from racial inequality. This population includes a lot of our farmers, 84% of whom are women. We’re working to help our farmers improve soil health, restore natural habitats, and implement stormwater management techniques to improve efficiency and prevent crop devastation during flooding.”
– Sibusiso “Raah” Msimango, Head of Programmes, Thanda
Partner Task Force: SMG Africa
“We [teach sustainable practices] at family and community levels [to] advance child development and learning. Over time, this will result in children reaching their full potential, resulting in communities setting up a positive cycle of sustainable development.”
– James Mlingo Tsabedze, Programme Manager, Vusumnotfo
Water First Education and Training Inc. / L’Eau d’Abord Éducation et Formation Inc.
Partner Task Force: SMG Canada
“Water First strives to provide safe spaces for Indigenous learners to strengthen their relationship with the Land and connect with career opportunities in STEM fields. By increasing the representation of Indigenous voices in [climate] conversations, we are supporting more opportunities to receive critical direction from Indigenous Peoples necessary to best navigate climate change-related decision-making while respecting the cultures and rights of these peoples.”
– Dillon Koopmans, Senior Manager of the Indigenous Schools Water Program, Water First Education and Training Inc.
