Post-Environmentalism
When I started my career in science, I used to spend more time and energy raising awareness for the climate crisis and biodiversity loss since those issues felt more in line with my education than other widespread societal issues such as racism, sexism, or fascism etc. I felt that these issues, although equally important, fell into the realm of social justice rather than environmental justice, and because climate change was caused by humans, I had less sympathy for our species, and I didn’t feel that social issues needed as much attention as natural ones. I thought to myself — without a habitable planet, would social issues even matter?
Part of the reason for this flawed assumption of mine stems from the western-colonial belief that humans are separate from nature, rather than part of a greater ecosystem of which we are responsible for maintaining. Colonizers and capitalists have pushed the idea that our environment only exists for our exploitation, and that nature only represents resources to profit from. However, Homo sapiens are just another product of natural selection, and everything we do influences the finely tuned balance of our environment. For too long we have been pushing that balance further and further away from safety.
What I have realized over the past few years is that climate change and biodiversity loss are not only natural issues but are crucial human issues as well. Climate change and biodiversity loss are caused predominantly by wealthier, industrial nations whose pursuit of GDP has resulted in an unbalanced impact on our climate, which has massive consequences for the most vulnerable people around the world. Climate change is a human-caused phenomenon and is intersectional with all of the social justice issues that I used to ignore. The most harmful consequences of the climate crisis will disproportionately impact every marginalized group on our planet including (but not limited to) the poor, the working class, women, immigrants and refugees, Indigenous peoples, visible minorities etc., all because of an adherence to an economic system (i.e., capitalism) that prioritizes endless growth over sustainability.
Our species is not responsible for climate change, but a small group of people are. Indigenous communities lived in harmony with our world for thousands of years before settler capitalism became the dominant economic system forced upon the world through colonization and subjugation. The wealthy few continue to destroy any chance we might have for a habitable planet by exploiting the working class and our environment for their gain. The fight to prevent the worst impacts of climate change is a class issue, the same class issue that has produced the fight for racial justice and Indigenous sovereignty, or the struggle against ever-increasing wealth inequality, as well as how we are collectively reacting to the ongoing covid-19 pandemic.
Although my education was in marine biology, I think what I really received was an education in empathy, because I have realized that both environmental and societal issues stem from a widespread failure by our society to care for other people. Capitalism has instilled a me-first ideology, where everyone is only responsible for their own wellbeing at the expense of all else. Environmental destruction is a lack of empathy for future generations and marginalized communities who will face the worst consequences of our actions (or lack thereof).
The only way we can meaningfully address the climate crisis and create a more equitable future for everyone is to dismantle the system at the root of these issues. We need to move beyond capitalism and push for a system that cares for all people regardless of wealth, race, gender, class, religion, or colour. You cannot fully support the environmental movement without being committed to the fight for social justice as well. These are all human issues, they’re all connected, and empathy is the only way forward.
