S2, E4: Is the climate crisis racist? We need to talk about eco-anxiety
In the fourth episode of season two, We Need to Talk about Eco-Anxiety, Clover dives deep into how climate justice and social justice are two sides of the same coin.
First up, Clover meets Isaias Hernandez - creator of @QueerBrownVegan - to deconstruct the climate crisis, racism, and inequality, and learn how each intersects. We then hear from young people around the world, sharing how social inequalities affect their eco-anxiety; Caroline Hickman on how to channel these emotions into constructive action; and finally, Rob Cameron, global head of affairs with Nestlé, on why those who contribute the least to the climate crisis end up experiencing its worst impacts.
Featuring…
Isaias Hernandez: Environmental Educator and creator of @QueerBrownVegan
Isaias Hernandez is an Environmental Educator and creator of @QueerBrownVegan, where he invites people into environmentalism through colourful graphics, illustrations, and videos. He seeks to provide a safe space for like-minded people to advance the discourse around the climate crisis.
In this episode we talk about:
Isaias' first-hand experience of environmental racism and inequality, growing up in California;
The divorce between how we talk about climate action and social justice;
How the current economic system has been designed to benefit a small echelon of people; at the detriment of people, and the planet.
Caroline Hickman, resident psychotherapist
Caroline is a psychotherapist from the University of Bath, who has spent years researching children and young people’s relationships with nature and feelings about the climate and ecological crisis; in the UK, Maldives, South Pacific and other communities already affected by rising sea levels.
In their conversation, Caroline and Clover discuss how climate change is not a technological crisis, but one of selfishness, greed and apathy, and how to turn climate guilt into a force for change, instead of tipping into climate doomism.
Rob Cameron, global head of affairs at Nestle
Rob Cameron is Global Head of Public Affairs at Nestlé SA. His career has been spent driving progress in sustainable development through the private sector. Before joining Nestlé, he was Chief Executive of SustainAbility (environmental consultancy and think tank), and Chief Executive of Fairtrade International.
Quotes from the episode
"Although urban planners or scientists may have expertise in what to build and how to do it, what they miss is the component of cultural experiences - how those communities are designed and how they operate - so having people from those communities representing them is the best situation. We can not solve this climate crisis purely through 'experts'; we need a multitude of experts from different communities."
- Queer Brown Vegan
"It's been known for some time that the people who will experience the worst effects of climate change are those who have had the least responsibility for it."
- Rob Cameron
With thanks this episode’s sponsor,
Nestle
Interested in sponsoring Season 3? Email media@forceofnature.xyz
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Read the Bloom
Is the climate crisis racist?
My name is Shelot Masithi. I’m a 22-year-old environmental activist covered in dust and dryness of the vast water scarcity in South Africa…
Have you listened to season 1 yet?
In this 9-part series, Clover sits down with the people who are leading the charge: from the woman who started a global movement out of her backyard; to the lawyer responsible for the world’s most historic climate agreement; and a three-time Nobel Peace Prize nominee.
A Force of Nature and OneFinePlay production
Director: Clover Hogan
Studio: OneFinePlay
Executive producer: James Bishop
Editor & producer: Kasra Firouzyar
Producer & researcher: Connor Foley
Additional creative support: Selena Christofides
With special thanks to everyone who makes Force of Nature possible!
Phoebe Hanson, Kathleen Hamilton, Alejandra Arias, Sacha Wright, Julia Sams, Vida Han, Zineb Jaoudat and Rohan Shah.