Climate justice can't happen without racial justice | David Lammy

Summary

In this powerful talk, the speaker discusses how climate action intersects with racial and social justice, particularly for Black communities. Growing up in a deprived area of London, the speaker highlights how issues like pollution, health disparities, and climate change disproportionately affect people of color. They argue that environmental justice cannot be achieved without addressing racial inequality and call for more inclusive leadership in climate movements. The speaker emphasizes the need for a global coalition focused on both racial and climate justice, urging for a radical green recovery and stronger international laws to protect vulnerable populations from environmental destruction.

Takeaways

• 😀 Climate action is critical for Black communities, even though these communities were historically excluded from environmental discussions.
• 🌍 Many Black people live in areas most vulnerable to environmental harm, such as poor neighborhoods near busy roads, contributing to respiratory diseases like asthma.
• 🚨 Black Americans breathe in 56% more pollution than they cause, while white Americans breathe 17% less than they produce.
• 💔 Climate injustice disproportionately affects communities of color, who contribute the least to global pollution but face the worst consequences.
• 🌊 Countries with the least carbon emissions, like Guyana, are suffering the most from climate change, showing a pattern of injustice tied to colonial history.
• ✊ The exploitation of natural resources has historically been tied to the exploitation of people of color, and the climate crisis is a result of this continued pattern.
• 🌱 A new global coalition is needed, uniting people affected by the climate crisis from various backgrounds and all races to demand climate justice as part of racial and social justice.
• 🌍 The climate movement must focus not just on the planet, but on the people who live on it, addressing both environmental and racial inequalities.
• 💼 A green recovery plan should prioritize creating jobs for marginalized communities, such as tree planting, green technologies, and building insulation work.
• ⚖️ The climate movement needs more Black leaders, as most prominent activists are still white, despite the significant impact climate change has on Black communities.

Q & A

Why does the speaker believe their talk about climate action helping Black communities is surprising?

The speaker finds it surprising because, growing up in a poor, Black community in Tottenham, climate change was never a priority. The immediate concerns were issues like economic deprivation, police discrimination, and basic survival, rather than environmental concerns.

What does the speaker mean when they say 'Rising sea levels feel unimportant when your bank balance is falling'?

The speaker emphasizes that for communities facing immediate financial struggles, like paying bills or securing housing, larger environmental issues like rising sea levels seem distant or irrelevant. Economic survival takes precedence over climate concerns.

How does the speaker connect Black Lives Matter to the climate crisis?

The speaker highlights how Black communities, especially in urban areas, suffer disproportionately from pollution, respiratory diseases, and climate change impacts. The phrase 'I can't breathe' is extended to represent the environmental struggles of Black people, showing how climate justice and racial justice are intertwined.

What specific example does the speaker give to illustrate how air pollution affects Black communities?

The speaker mentions Ella Kissi-Debrah, a nine-year-old girl from South East London who died from a fatal asthma attack. Evidence suggests that unlawful levels of air pollution near her home contributed to her death, exemplifying the health risks faced by marginalized communities.

How does the speaker describe the relationship between colonialism and the climate crisis?

The speaker argues that the exploitation of natural resources for profit, a key feature of colonialism, is directly tied to environmental degradation. Colonialism’s exploitation of both land and people laid the groundwork for the climate crisis we face today, with marginalized communities bearing the brunt of its effects.

What is the 'new coalition' the speaker calls for in addressing the climate crisis?

The speaker calls for a new coalition that includes Black people, people of color, and progressive allies from all nations, united in recognizing the intersection of climate justice, racial justice, social justice, and intergenerational justice.

What does the speaker suggest should be the focus of a 'radical green recovery plan'?

The speaker proposes that a green recovery plan should not only focus on environmental sustainability but also address racial and economic inequalities. This includes creating green jobs, such as planting trees and working on green technologies, for people who have been disenfranchised historically.

Why does the speaker emphasize the need for more Black leaders in the climate movement?

The speaker stresses that almost all the prominent climate change activists are white, and the leadership in environmental organizations does not reflect the diversity of the communities most affected by climate change. Increasing Black leadership would ensure that the perspectives of marginalized groups are represented in climate advocacy.

How does the speaker critique the environmental movement's representation of people of color?

The speaker critiques the environmental movement by pointing out that minorities are underrepresented in leadership roles within environmental organizations. A study found that people of color make up 40% of the U.S. population, yet only 12% of leadership roles in environmental groups, highlighting a major disparity.

What legal change does the speaker advocate for in relation to environmental justice?

The speaker advocates for the establishment of an international law of 'ecocide,' which would criminalize the widespread destruction of the environment, even if it doesn't immediately harm human lives. This law would hold governments and corporations accountable for their role in environmental degradation.