Róisín Moriarty
Taking action on climate requires a radical reduction in fossil-fuel emissions. What is the role of intersectionality in climate action? How does it empower us? How do we overhaul our systems of governance to ensure climate action?
The answers are not as radical as you think.
Intersectionality is not a new idea but for some heading to COP26, the United Nations 2021 climate change conference in Glasgow, it might be an unfamiliar term. Intersectionality refers to an approach that identifies privileges and oppressions. Applying this approach will be necessary if we want meaningful action on climate change. Understanding how intersectionality can improve the balance of power at COP26 is particularly important.
What is intersectionality?
Kimberlé Crenshaw developed the idea of intersectionality in 1989.
As a lawyer and civil-rights activist she used it to understand how race and gender ‘intersect’. In particular, she highlighted the unique type of oppression suffered by black women because they are both black and female.
The term entered the vernacular in the 2010s. Yet, it only became mainstream in 2017 during media arguments in the United States about what ‘type of women‘ the 2017 Women’s March on Washington was for.
“Recognizing that women have intersecting identities and are therefore impacted by a multitude of social justice and human rights issues, we have outlined a representative vision for a government that is based on the principles of liberty and justice for all.”
Since then – like many words – intersectionality seems to have taken on a life of its own.
Intersectionality & climate and environmental justice
Intersectionality looks at how different types of oppression become compounded, whilst climate justice reframes climate change as an ethical and political issue, as opposed to a physical one. Environmental (in)justice, meanwhile, is the idea that some communities endure more environmental risks and that this inequality needs to be addressed.
Whilst looking at the communities which are at the greatest risk from the impacts of climate change, a common theme emerges. It unites these three ideas: intersectionality, climate justice and environmental justice. Communities of low income, communities of colour, indigenous communities and the women belonging to those communities often face the worst consequences of these impacts.
These communities are the least responsible for the causes of climate change. Yet, they suffer the worst impacts. They may also face further disadvantages from responses to climate change which might make existing inequalities worse.
Taking action on climate is not just about reducing emissions. Human rights and social inequality have always been at the heart of this issue. These communities should receive fair treatment and be allowed meaningful involvement in the development, implementation and enforcement of laws that will affect their environment.
When tackling climate change we need to avoid actions that compound existing oppression.
“Climate justice will be intersectional or it will be bullshit.”
Adapted from Flavia Dzodan on feminism
COP26
The good thing about COP is that every country has a seat at the table. The bad thing about COP is that every country has a seat at the table.
In theory, our national representatives—heads of state, negotiators and advisors—represent us. They try to figure out how we can fight climate change together.
Yet, it is the people with perceived ‘national interest’ (for example, we must continue to grow our economy at all costs) or ‘vested interests’ (for example, those who continue to dig up, sell and burn fossil fuels) that are often the ones with the most say in making or delaying decisions.
"We spent a long time thinking we were engaged in an argument about data and reason," @billmckibben says about the climate movement over the last three decades. "But now we realize it's a fight over money and power."
— Prof. Katharine Hayhoe (@KHayhoe) September 26, 2021
Professor Katharine Hayhoe tweets about how acting on climate change is a battle about money and power, not data and reason.
At present, the poor, the vulnerable and the oppressed are not faithfully represented by their decision-makers. Taking an intersectional approach means recognising both privilege and oppression, bringing them out into the open and taking action to level the playing field.
Faithful representation
We have to organise and work together. Creating a shared vision of a much better world—fairer, cleaner, safer— is necessary in order to bind us and to drive us forward.
Electing braver politicians, at every level of government, is key. Particularly those who will take immediate action on climate change and take care of the most vulnerable.
How do we guarantee that the people we elect will do this?
One not-so-radical solution
We don’t have time to fix the entire system. We know it’s broken, but this is an emergency.
One not-so-radical solution is to introduce quotas. Quotas can get proportional representation and fast!
It is unlikely that there will ever be quotas for those sitting around the negotiating table at COP. Yet, it is possible to diversify representation at the national and sub-national levels.
People who are rich and powerful, male and white (and others too!) often complain about quotas. It is only natural that they would, as quotas start to redistribute ‘their’ power.
What’s more, quotas do more than redistribute power. They also start to put right the lack of representation in the past, so says Emilia Zenzile Roig.
“An understanding of quotas as something that is helping marginalised groups, ‘helping them’, I think we should shift from that discourse and move to an understanding of quotas as measures that are here to stop an implicit preference system that is currently in place for dominant groups.”
Representative elected officials will mean that we have greater diversity at COP.
“The system is broken, long live the system!”
Working with the system we have does not mean we cannot make, and insist on, changes for the better, every day. As individuals, as communities, as a global society, we can work together to improve our systems of governance.
These institutions cannot be a place where our collective values are set by the rich and the powerful.
Making them a true reflection of who we are will ensure action on climate that leaves our shared future fairer, safer and happier for everyone, especially the most vulnerable.
Featured image courtesy of Callum Shaw on Unsplash. Image license can be found here. No changes were made to this image.
Róisín Moriarty
Róisín is a freelance writer, a climate science and policy geek and the founder of blackbirdandtamedogs.com.