30th Anniversary Series: Women of Color and Climate Justice
The next lecture we are going to be looking back on is the Annual lecture from 2020, "Conversation on Climate Science, Policy & Justice with Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson." Dr. Johnson answers questions about her book in a conversation moderated by Drs. Hoda Mahmoudi and Rashawn Ray. She describes the frustration of seeing a small group of white men being considered thought leaders in climate change. However, she knew that most women who are doing the most important climate work don't have time to take a break and write a book, one of the most traditional paths to thought leadership.
Dr. Johnson notes how important it is to highlight women and women of color in the climate movement. Practically, women are half of the planet. We shouldn't exclude 50% of the ideas and workforce when facing such a huge problem. Additionally, women and people of color are the most impacted by climate change emergencies. They are highly motivated to find solutions.
When considering the future, it is also important to acknowledge who will be making the decisions for the communities. Things can't continue to work and look as they do now, but communities of indigenous people and people of color should be at the forefront of the decision-making for the transformations of their own communities and ways of life rather than having their futures dictated to them.
Dr. Johnson also points out that the ways of thinking and solutions we have now are not that effective. We have been aware of climate change for decades, yet the problems just keep getting worse. If we challenge the patriarchal structures of leadership and knowledge creation, we simultaneously challenge the systemic racism baked into those historic structures. We can then unleash new ingenuity, feminine energy, and creativity to enliven and push the fight for climate justice forward.
Climate justice is an important factor that needs to be acknowledged. It points out how some communities are more impacted than others. No one deserves to breathe less clean air because of the color of their skin. The disproportionate impact of things like polluted water and air on communities of color also has major health implications. If you are wealthy, you can buy yourself some time, but eventually, it is coming for all of us.
Racism significantly derails our efforts to save the planet. We are unmotivated as a collective because the worst impacts are hitting low-income communities of color first. Additionally, Environmentalism has historically been a white movement that excludes black voices. For black people themselves, racism can make it very hard to keep moving forward and be productive in the face of so much hostility and adversity. Dr. Johnson identifies community building as an essential part of climate work to help support and grow people's power.
Finally, she identifies how guilty many people feel about their individual carbon footprint. However, there is so much that is out of an individual's control. They can't choose where their energy is coming from if they have access to public transportation, or how the industry around them pollutes their community. While she notes that lowering your individual footprint and living according to your values is important, in terms of real change, systemic transformation is required. This is why building community and listening to women and women of color is essential. No individual can affect systemic transformation alone, but solutions can be found through collective action.
About the Author
Stella Hudson is a Graduate Assistant with the Baha’i Chair for World Peace. She graduated from the College of William and Mary in 2021 with a B.A. in English. She will graduate from the University of Maryland with her MLIS in spring 2023.