Conversation with cross-border environmentalist Leah Thomas

Conversation with cross-border environmentalist Leah Thomas

Leah Thomas (Leah Thomas) founder Cross-environmentalist The platform, together with world leaders, policymakers and other activists, convenes climate action for the 26th UN Conference of the Parties (COP26).In addition to being one of the “influential leaders and thinkers”, Thomas New York Times Climate Center, Coincides with the World Summit.

As a self-describing “Ecological communicator,” Thomas’ work emphasizes Environmental justice And the integration of environmentalism and social justice issues, including the Black Lives and Lives (BLM) movement.She coined the term “cross-environmentalism” on Instagram postal In May 2020, amid widespread BLM protests and calls for racial justice, the incident quickly spread. In Thomas’s words, cross-environmentalism is “an inclusive version of environmentalism that advocates the protection of human beings and the planet.”

This concept is based on “intersection”, a kind of “description[s] The double bondage of racial and gender biases that exist at the same time,” created by a professor at Columbia Law School, Kimberly W. CrenshawCross-environmentalism recognizes that there is overlap between systemic harm to black, indigenous and colored people (BIPOC) communities and the planet.The movement also recognized Disproportionate impact The impact of climate change on other marginalized groups, including persons with disabilities and women and gender minorities.

In the following slightly edited interview, Thomas discussed COP26, Elaborated on cross-environmentalism, and provided suggestions for the next generation of activists and educators.

According to COP26, what do you want world leaders and policymakers to know?

I want them to know that “doing nothing” is no longer good enough. To be honest, I am really tired of policies and these big events. I went to another climate event and they brought the CEO of Shell to the stage. I think this is not my registration. These climate events involve many corporate interests. For example, I encourage world leaders to work with field activists before working with Shell and try to give them an arc of redemption.

I will tell world leaders that most climate solutions already exist. I don’t like the solution to the climate crisis being advertised as a way to make money from renewable energy.If you watch Statistical data, Indigenous peoples protect 80% of the remaining biodiversity in the world. So, when there are already incredible people solving problems around the world, why do we even talk about these extravagant solutions?

Before you founded the Intersection Environmentalist platform, you studied environmental science and policy at Chapman University. As a student who has never been included in the course, what do you want to learn by yourself?

I really hope to teach the history of the environmental justice movement in my course. We learned about the establishment of Earth Day and the establishment of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which occurred after the passage of environmental laws such as the Clean Air Act and the Clean Water Act. I haven’t really heard a lot about how the environmental movement has really absorbed many successful protest strategies from the civil rights movement, but it has not absorbed the people from the civil rights movement.

Environmentalism is largely a white, middle-class and upper-class movement, not super-intersected. After that, in the 1980s, we saw the emergence of an environmental justice movement led mainly by BIOC, which tried to solve some of the inequalities in environmental policies that black and brown communities really faced.

I think it’s really important to have this background because the way it taught me was like, “There is an environmental movement, it just happened”, but it didn’t approve of the civil rights movement. The environmental justice movement has not explored too much and has not received much attention. I think it should.

This is one thing I wish we could talk more about. I also think that it is really important to introduce social justice into environmental projects in a certain capacity, not just as a part or chapter of a book, but as requiring an entire class. I think social justice and environmental results are intertwined.

How can people best support you and your work at Intersection Environmentalist, a non-profit organization you founded?

Pass with Our content Online and share with teachers and professors. I like to use our materials in a classroom environment. If we have a new initiative, please join as much as possible. Besides, donations really help. We are a 501(c)(3) organization and we want to make sure that we pay everyone a living wage. This is the direction we are working towards, because we also want to show that environmental justice work should be fairly compensated. There should be more and more occupations in this field. Enlarging, donating, sharing and joining us are all ways to support.

What advice do you have for the next generation of activists who want to participate in the cross-climate movement? Where can they start?

I would say that learning is the first step, and honestly, it is also the most interesting step. Learn about the history of the environmental justice movement, and learn about the cool heroes who deserve a place in environmental history. It is also very important for people to understand and participate in what is happening in the local community. You may be surprised, if you say that driving along the highway for 30 minutes, the air pollution is completely different. In general, people should look at their local community, educate themselves, and really have fun from it.

One way people can educate themselves is to read your Upcoming book, Cross-environmentalists: How to dismantle the oppressive system to protect humans + the earth. Can you tell us more?

When I wrote it, I was really thinking about what I wanted when I was young, a black environmental science student. I tried my best to include some of them in the book.

This book is indeed a history book in some respects; it talks about ecological feminism and cross theory. It talks about the “father” and “mother” of the environmental justice movement. Readers will hear different people from all over the world talk about how they practice environmentalism and explore these perspectives from a nuanced perspective.

Look at Thomas’ website More information about her work. You can also follow her on Instagram, @greengirlleah.

Sophie Capshaw-Mack is Master of Public Administration in Environmental Science and Policy (MPA-ESP) Project of Columbia University.You can read more of her story here.